Mapping the evolution and research landscape of Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a bibliometric analysis

This study aimed to analyze the scientific literature on Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) using bibliometric methods to identify temporal trends in publication output, major research themes, and the structural characteristics of the field. Original research articles published in English between 2011 and 2025, indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection database and included in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-E), were analyzed. Publications retrieved through a predefined search strategy were evaluated in terms of annual scientific production, citation indicators, journal distribution, highly influential studies, and author and keyword networks. Bibliometric analyses and visualizations were performed using Biblioshiny (Bibliometrix R package) and VOSviewer. A total of 93 original research articles met the inclusion criteria. Annual publication output increased markedly after 2017, reaching a peak in 2023. Journal of Robotic Surgery emerged as the most productive journal (n = 12), whereas European Urology, Journal of Urology, and BJU International demonstrated the highest impact and visibility. Italy (n = 24), the United States (n = 21), and China (n = 17) were identified as the leading contributors to scientific output. Citation analyses showed that the intellectual foundation of the field is centered on a limited number of seminal studies. Keyword and network analyses revealed a predominant focus on functional outcomes, refinement of surgical techniques, and learning curve–related themes. Overall, the RS-RARP literature represents an increasingly mature and expanding research domain, and these findings provide a quantitative overview of its current structure while offering guidance for future clinical and methodological investigations.