Systematic review and meta-analysis use in the field of spinal cord injury research: A bibliometric analysis

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2025 · DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2023.2251205 · Published: January 1, 2025

Spinal Cord Injury Research Methodology & Design

Simple Explanation

This study examines the use of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMA) in spinal cord injury (SCI) research. The study analyzes publications indexed in the Web of Science database to understand how SRMA methodology is applied. The researchers also evaluated the methodological quality of a random sample of articles.

Study Duration

1985-2022 (37 years)

Participants

1’224 documents, 5’237 scholars

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The use of SRMA in SCI research has increased rapidly since 2009, with an annual growth rate of approximately 15%.
2
Major research themes include recovery, SCI management, rehabilitation, and quality of life.
3
Common methodological issues include opaquely described search strategies, poorly reported critical appraisals, and insufficient attention to publication bias.

Research Summary

The bibliometric analysis shows a rapid increase in SRMA applications in SCI research. The study identifies key methodological concerns among a randomly selected set of articles. The authors provide guidance for improving adherence to methodological and reporting SRMA guidelines.

Practical Implications

Improve Reporting Transparency

Encourage clear and complete reporting of search strategies, critical appraisals, and publication bias assessments in SRMA.

Promote Protocol Registration

Advocate for the registration of SR protocols to enhance transparency and reduce redundancy in research efforts.

Focus on High-Quality Evidence

Emphasize the use of the best available evidence in SRMA for developing clinical guidelines and encourage collaborative data-sharing efforts.

Study Limitations

1
Inherent limitations of bibliometric analyses.
2
Possible influence of database design, curatorial policies, and journal indexing on the quality of retrieved documents.
3
Limited ability to conduct in-depth analyses of population characteristics and temporal trends within individual studies.

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