Bibliometric review involves systematically analysing the academic literature on a particular topic, enabling researchers to better understand the trajectory and future trends of a specific research field. This study uses various bibliometric tools to analyse relevant research on the spastic hand over the past two decades, aiming to identify key contributors, hotspots and emerging trends. The results show that early studies focused on cerebral palsy, stroke and botulinum toxin treatment, while recent advancements highlight surgical procedures such as neurectomy and soft tissue transfer. Future research should enhance international collaboration and the use of neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques to gain a deeper understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying spasticity, optimize surgical procedures and explore novel treatments for spastic hand.
AartsPBJongeriusPHGeerdinkYAvan LimbeekJGeurtsAC.Modified constraint-induced movement therapy combined with bimanual training (MCIMT-BIT) in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: How are improvements in arm–hand use established?Res Dev Disabil. 2011,
32: 271–9.
2.
AgarwalPJanaSSharmaD, et al.
Seventh cervical nerve (c7) transection for spastic arm paralysis after cerebral injury. Operat Neurosurg. 2023,
24: 256–61.
3.
AranedaRDricotLEbner-KarestinosD, et al.
Brain activation changes following motor training in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: An fMRI study. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2021,
64: 101502.
4.
AriaMCuccurulloC.Bibliometrix: An r-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. J Informet. 2017,
11: 959–75.
5.
BahmJHagemannCBecherTBöttcherRDussaCU.Surgical treatment options for spastic movement disorders of the extremities. Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde. 2024,
172: 242–53.
6.
BleyenheuftYDricotLGilisN, et al.
Capturing neuroplastic changes after bimanual intensive rehabilitation in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: A combined DTI, TMS and fMRI pilot study. Res Dev Disabil. 2015,
43–44: 136–49.
7.
BleyenheuftYDricotLEbner-KarestinosD, et al.
Motor skill training may restore impaired corticospinal tract fibers in children with cerebral palsy. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2020,
34: 533–46.
8.
BrashearAGordonMFElovicE, et al.
Intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin for the treatment of wrist and finger spasticity after a stroke. N Engl J Med. 2002,
347: 395–400.
CaoJChangJWuC, et al.
Extradural contralateral s1 nerve root transfer for spastic lower limb paralysis. J Biomed Res. 2023,
37: 394–400.
11.
Carton de TournaiAHermanEGathyE, et al.
Baby HABIT-ILE intervention: Study protocol of a randomised controlled trial in infants aged 6–18 months with unilateral cerebral palsy. BMJ Open. 2024,
14: e078383.
12.
ChangJWangBYuL, et al.
A cadaver feasibility study of extradural contralateral c7 ventral root transfer technique for treating upper extremity paralysis. Spine. 2022,
47: 1248–52.
13.
ChenC.Citespace ii: Detecting and visualizing emerging trends and transient patterns in scientific literature. J Am Soc Inform Sci Technol. 2006,
57: 359–77.
14.
ChenCChenY.Searching for clinical evidence in citespace. AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2005,
2005: 121–5.
15.
CouletB.Principles of tendon transfers. Hand Surg Rehabil. 2016,
35: 68–80.
16.
CroweCSSpinnerRJShinAY.Global trends and outcomes of nerve transfers for treatment of adult brachial plexus injuries. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2024: 17531934241232062.
17.
DinerCMathieuLPfisterGMourtialonRDenormandiePde l’EscalopierN.Nerve transfer in the spastic equino varus foot: Anatomical feasibility study. Foot Ankle Surg. 2023,
29: 346–9.
18.
DonadioJUpexPBachyMFitoussiF.Wrist arthrodesis in adolescents with cerebral palsy. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2016,
41: 758–62.
19.
DunningT.Accurate methods for the statistics of surprise and coincidence. Comput Linguist. 1993,
19: 61–74.
20.
EggheL.Theory and practise of the g-index. Scientometrics. 2006,
69: 131–52.
21.
EliassonACKrumlinde-SundholmLRösbladB, et al.
The manual ability classification system (MACS) for children with cerebral palsy: Scale development and evidence of validity and reliability. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2006,
48: 549–54.
22.
EnslinJMNLangerakNGFieggenAG.The evolution of selective dorsal rhizotomy for the management of spasticity. Neurotherapeutics. 2019,
16: 3–8.
23.
FacciorussoSSpinaSPicelliA, et al.
The role of Botulinum toxin type-a in spasticity: Research trends from a bibliometric analysis. Toxins (Basel). 2024,
16.
24.
FengJGuYXuW.Hand surgery in a new ‘hand–brain’ era: Change the hand, rebuild the brain. Sci Bull (Beijing). 2022,
67: 1932–4.
25.
FheodoroffK.Spastic paresis and rehabilitation – the patient journey. Eur Neurol Rev. 2016.
26.
GaoZPangZLeiG, et al.
Crossing nerve transfer drives sensory input-dependent plasticity for motor recovery after brain injury. Sci Adv. 2022,
8: eabn5899.
27.
GillickBTKrachLEFeymaT, et al.
Safety of primed repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and modified constraint-induced movement therapy in a randomized controlled trial in pediatric hemiparesis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2015,
96: S104–13.
28.
GordonAMHungYCBrandaoM, et al.
Bimanual training and constraint-induced movement therapy in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: A randomized trial. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2011,
25: 692–702.
29.
GordonAMFerreCLRobertMTChinKBrandaoMFrielKM.HABIT+TDCS: A study protocol of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) investigating the synergistic efficacy of hand–arm bimanual intensive therapy (HABIT) plus targeted non-invasive brain stimulation to improve upper extremity function in school-age children with unilateral cerebral palsy. BMJ Open. 2022,
12: e052409.
30.
GraciesJMBurkeKCleggNJ, et al.
Reliability of the tardieu scale for assessing spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2010,
91: 421–8.
31.
GraciesJMBrashearAJechR, et al.
Safety and efficacy of abobotulinumtoxina for hemiparesis in adults with upper limb spasticity after stroke or traumatic brain injury: A double-blind randomised controlled trial. Lancet Neurology. 2015,
14: 992–1001.
32.
GrasMLeclercqC.Spasticity and hyperselective neurectomy in the upper limb. Hand Surg Rehabil. 2017,
36: 391–401.
33.
GuptaDBarachantAGordonAM, et al.
Effect of sensory and motor connectivity on hand function in pediatric hemiplegia. Ann Neurol. 2017,
82: 766–80.
34.
GuttermanJGordonAM.Neural correlates of impaired grasp function in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Brain Sci. 2023,
13.
35.
HashemiMSturbois-NachefNKeenanMAWinstonP.Surgical approaches to upper limb spasticity in adult patients: A literature review. Front Rehabil Sci. 2021,
2: 709969.
36.
HelinMBachyMStanchinaCFitoussiF.Pronator teres selective neurectomy in children with cerebral palsy. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2018,
43: 879–84.
37.
HouziauxGSeizeurRHuWForliAPerruisseau-CarrierA.Cadaveric study of flexor digitorum profundus and superficialis and flexor pollicis longus innervation patterns for application in selective neurectomy. Hand Surg Rehabil. 2024,
43: 101629.
38.
Hurtado-OlmoPGonzález-SantosÁPérez de RojasJFernández-MartínezNFDel OlmoLHernández-CortésP.Surgical treatment in post-stroke spastic hands: A systematic review. J Clin Med. 2024, 13.
39.
JahangirAWTanHJNorlinahMI, et al.
Intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin for the treatment of wrist and finger spasticity after stroke. Med J Malaysia. 2007,
62: 319–22.
40.
JalouxCBiniNLeclercqC.Nerve transfers in the forearm: Potential use in spastic conditions. Surg Radiol Anat. 2022,
44: 1091–9.
41.
JennionsMDLortieCJKorichevaJ. Role of meta-analysis in interpreting the scientific literature. In: Handbook of Meta-analysis in Ecology and Evolution, 2013: 364–80.
42.
KleinbergJ. Bursty and hierarchical structure in streams. In: Proceedings of the Eighth ACM SIGKDD International Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining, 2002: 91–101.
43.
KlochkovASKhizhnikovaAENazarovaMAChernikovaLA.Pathological upper limb synergies of poststroke patients. Zhurnal Vysshei Nervnoi Deyatelnosti Imeni i P Pavlova. 2017,
67: 273–87.
44.
KoEKimD-Y.Pharmacological management of muscle spasticity. J Korean Med Assoc. 2022,
65: 117–22.
45.
KrewerCHartlSMüllerFKoenigE.Effects of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation on upper-limb spasticity and impairment in patients with spastic hemiparesis: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014,
95: 1039–47.
46.
KuoH-CFerreCLCarmelJB, et al.
Using diffusion tensor imaging to identify corticospinal tract projection patterns in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2017,
59: 65–71.
47.
LeclercqC.Selective neurectomy for the spastic upper extremity. Hand Clin. 2018,
34: 537–45.
48.
LeclercqCMertensP.Trends and insights review. Nerve procedures in the management of upper limb spasticity. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2024: 17531934241238885.
49.
LeclercqCPerruisseau-CarrierAGrasMPancieraPFulchignoniCFulchignoniM.Hyperselective neurectomy for the treatment of upper limb spasticity in adults and children: A prospective study. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2021,
46: 708–16.
50.
LiJYingYSuF, et al.
The Hua-Shan rehabilitation program after contralateral seventh cervical nerve transfer for spastic arm paralysis. Disabil Rehabil. 2022,
44: 404–11.
51.
MaXDengKSunYWuM.Research trends on cancer neuroscience: A bibliometric and visualized analysis. Front Neurosci. 2024,
18: 1408306.
52.
MaincourtPRamiereJSeizeurRHuWPerruisseau-CarrierA. [
Anatomical cartography of the radial nerve at the elbow level for intraradial nerve transfers for finger extension reconstruction in spastic upper limb – A cadaveric study]. Ann Chir Plast Esthet. 2024,
69: 343–54.
53.
MetelskiNGuYQuinnLFrielKMGordonAM.Safety and efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation for the upper extremities in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2024,
66: 573–97.
54.
MillerLZivianiJWareRSBoydRN.Mastery motivation as a predictor of occupational performance following upper limb intervention for school-aged children with congenital hemiplegia. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2014,
56: 976–83.
55.
NakagawaSSamarasingheGHaddawayNR, et al.
Research weaving: Visualizing the future of research synthesis. Trends Ecol Evol. 2019,
34: 224–38.
56.
NixonMZreikNBakhitH.Wrist arthrodesis and soft tissue rebalancing in the spastic hand. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2024,
49: 420–7.
57.
NovakIMorganCFaheyM, et al.
State of the evidence traffic lights 2019: Systematic review of interventions for preventing and treating children with cerebral palsy. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2020,
20: 3.
58.
OmerGE.Tendon transfers for traumatic nerve injuries. J Am Soc Surg Hand. 2004,
4: 214–26.
59.
PerautETaïebLJourdanC, et al.
Results and complications of superficialis-to-profundus tendon transfer in brain-damaged patients, a series of 26 patients. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2018,
104: 121–6.
60.
RanKRDasOJohnstonDT, et al.
Nerve-targeted surgical treatments for spasticity: A narrative review. World Neurosurg. 2024,
187: 104–13.
61.
SabeMPillingerTKaiserS, et al.
Half a century of research on antipsychotics and schizophrenia: A scientometric study of hotspots, nodes, bursts, and trends. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2022,
136: 104608.
62.
SakamotoKNakamuraTUenishiH, et al.
Immediate effects of unaffected arm exercise in poststroke patients with spastic upper limb hemiparesis. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2014,
37: 123–7.
63.
SchiessMCEldabeSKonradP, et al.
Intrathecal baclofen for severe spasticity: Longitudinal data from the product surveillance registry. Neuromodulation. 2020,
23: 996–1002.
64.
SteenbergenBThielEVHulstijnWMeulenbroekRGJ.The coordination of reaching and grasping in spastic hemiparesis. Hum Movem Sci. 2000,
19: 75–105.
65.
StrömbergJBergJReinholdtC.Technique and biomechanical properties of the side-to-side z-lengthening in spasticity-correcting surgery – A study on porcine tendons. J Plast Surg Hand Surg. 2023,
57: 343–5.
66.
SuFXuYWangX, et al.
Huashan perioperative nursing program for stroke patients undergoing contralateral seventh cervical nerve transfer. Perioper Med (Lond). 2022,
11: 12.
67.
TanRESNgLJHChewELimAYT.Outcomes of complete neurotomy and immediate repair of the musculocutaneous nerve for treatment of elbow spasticity. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2024: 17531934241251667.
68.
ThielmanGYoureyL.Ultrasound imaging of upper extremity spastic muscle post-stroke and the correlation with function: A pilot study. NeuroRehabilitation. 2019,
45: 213–20.
69.
TranchidaGVVan HeestA.Preferred options and evidence for upper limb surgery for spasticity in cerebral palsy, stroke, and brain injury. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2020,
45: 34–42.
70.
TrompettoCCurràAPuceL, et al.
Spastic dystonia in stroke subjects: Prevalence and features of the neglected phenomenon of the upper motor neuron syndrome. Clin Neurophysiol. 2019,
130: 521–7.
71.
van EckNJWaltmanL.Software survey: Vosviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping. Scientometrics. 2010,
84: 523–38.
72.
Van HeestAERamachandranVStoutJWerveyRGarciaL.Quantitative and qualitative functional evaluation of upper extremity tendon transfers in spastic hemiplegia caused by cerebral palsy. J Pediatr Orthop. 2008,
28: 679–83.
73.
WangXTehSHWangXH.Knowledge mapping of spastic cerebral palsy. A bibliometric analysis of global research (2000–2022). Ital J Pediatr. 2024,
50: 9.
74.
WaxweilerCRemySMerliniLLeclercqC.Nerve transfer in the spastic upper limb: Anatomical feasibility study. Surg Radiol Anat. 2022,
44: 183–90.
75.
XuWD.Surgical technique of xu's cc7 procedure ‘contralateral c7 to c7 cross nerve transfer through a trans longus colli, prespinal route for treating spastic arm’. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2020,
20: 61–8.
76.
YanWZhengKWengL, et al.
Bibliometric evaluation of 2000–2019 publications on functional near-infrared spectroscopy. NeuroImage. 2020,
220: 117121.
77.
YongLYWongCHLGastonMLamWL.The role of selective peripheral neurectomy in the treatment of upper limb spasticity. J Hand Surg Asian Pac Vol. 2018,
23: 181–91.
78.
YooSBlandfordA. Augmented reality and surgery: Human factors, challenges, and future steps. In: 2022 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces Abstracts and Workshops (VRW), 2022: 459–61.
79.
YuAPJiangSZhaoHL, et al.
Application of cube-stir MRI and high-frequency ultrasound in contralateral cervical 7 nerve transfer surgery. Br J Neurosurg. 2023,
37: 442–7.
80.
ZhaoHLGaoYYuAP, et al.
MRI-based optimization design of the pre-spinal route of contralateral c7 nerve transfer for spastic arm paralysis. Front Surg. 2022,
9: 837872.
81.
ZhengMXHuaXYFengJT, et al.
Trial of contralateral seventh cervical nerve transfer for spastic arm paralysis. N Engl J Med. 2018,
378: 22–34.
82.
ZhuSYeXFengJT, et al.
Cadaveric feasibility study of modified contralateral c7 nerve transfer for targeted functional recovery in hemiplegic upper extremity. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
