Present research and emerging trends in neurogenic bladder research: a bibliometric and visualization analysis (2015–2025)
Original Article

Present research and emerging trends in neurogenic bladder research: a bibliometric and visualization analysis (2015–2025)

Yangyao Peng1,2# ORCID logo, Jingjing Huang3# ORCID logo, Mufeng Peng4# ORCID logo, Yingxia Wang5, Gai Gao1, Qing Zhang1 ORCID logo

1Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; 2Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; 3Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; 4Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; 5Department of Ophthalmology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

Contributions: (I) Conception and design: Y Peng, J Huang; (II) Administrative support: Q Zhang; (III) Provision of study materials or patients: M Peng, G Gao; (IV) Collection and assembly of data: Y Peng, Y Wang; (V) Data analysis and interpretation: Y Peng, Q Zhang; (VI) Manuscript writing: All authors; (VII) Final approval of manuscript: All authors.

#These authors contributed equally to this work as co-first authors.

Correspondence to: Qing Zhang, BM. Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan 430000, China. Email: zqzqing@whu.edu.cn.

Background: The clinical significance of neurogenic bladder (NB) has gained growing attention in recent years, attracting substantial scholarly interest. This study systematically examines collaborative research networks, evaluates emerging trends, identifies current research priorities, and projects future directions in the field of NB.

Methods: A systematic search of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) was performed to identify relevant studies on NB published between January 2015 and June 2025. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using CiteSpace to visualize and compare contributions across countries, institutions, journals, references, and keywords.

Results: The final analysis incorporated 4,180 publications, demonstrating a consistent upward trend in annual research output. The USA and the Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris (AP-HP) were the top publishing countries and institutions, with 1,314 and 151 papers, respectively. “Neurourology and Urodynamics” had the highest number of publications, totaling 442, while “Summary of European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines on Neuro-Urology” was the most cited reference, with 115 citations. The most prolific author was Hann-Chorng Kuo with 87 papers.

Conclusions: NB research demonstrates rapid development, yet high-quality outcomes remain scarce. Current studies primarily focus on fundamental mechanisms and technological innovation, with urgent needs to enhance clinical translation and patient-centered outcomes. Future strategies should prioritize resource optimization and multidisciplinary collaboration to accelerate translational breakthroughs while reinforcing patient-centric research frameworks.

Keywords: Neurogenic bladder (NB); bibliometrics; visualized analysis; CiteSpace


Submitted Oct 23, 2025. Accepted for publication Dec 31, 2025. Published online Feb 11, 2026.

doi: 10.21037/tau-2025-aw-798


Highlight box

Key findings

• In this study, the key value and research trend of neurogenic bladder (NB) were systematically summarized through bibliometrics.

What is known and what is new?

• NB exhibits a relatively high incidence. Given its multisystem involvement and complex pathophysiology, the importance of clinical management and patient rehabilitation is increasingly recognized. Recent advances in therapeutic experience have led to a more comprehensive understanding of NB.

• A decade-spanning visualization of NB research evolution maps shifts from basic science to patient-centric innovations. It identifies under-explored niches and rising interdisciplinary collaborations, while quantifying global research inequities to urge the inclusion of developing regions in future studiess

What is the implication, and what should change now?

• By mapping current and future research priorities, this work aims to engage clinicians and support the direction of follow-up research.


Introduction

Neurogenic bladder (NB) broadly describes lower urinary tract dysfunction resulting from neurological impairment of the central or peripheral nervous systems. Common etiologies encompass spinal cord injury (SCI), spina bifida, cerebrovascular accidents, and multiple sclerosis (MS) (1,2). The prevalence of NB varies significantly across neurological disorders, affecting 70–80% of SCI patients, 40–90% of MS cases, and 37–72% of individuals with Parkinson’s disease (3). Pelosi et al. (4) conducted a retrospective study in Brazil in 2021 and found that the prevalence rate of NB was 94.65%. Among them, 67% had a diagnosis of traumatic SCI, and 69.32% were male. Its prevalence rate was slightly higher than the range of 70% to 84% described by Patel (5) and Rabadi et al. (6).

The occurrence of NB can complicate SCI and impose a heavy physical and mental burden on patients. For instance, it can lead to a decline in the quality of life, psychological problems such as anxiety and depression, as well as issues like changes in bladder compliance, thickening of the bladder wall, vesicoureteral reflux, and potential renal failure (7). When the bladder is under high-pressure conditions, it will compress blood vessels, reduce blood flow and lead to hypoxia (8). A study conducted by Cruz et al. in Brazil in 2021 evaluated the impact of urinary incontinence (UI) on the quality of life of SCI patients. The results showed that UI significantly affects the quality of life, especially in aspects such as social life, sexuality, and emotions (9). In addition, UI not only easily triggers negative emotions such as shame, helplessness, anxiety, and even depression, but also increases the burden on the patients’ families (10). Long-term UI is more likely to lead to complications such as pressure sores (11).

While significant progress has been made in the field of NB research, the existing studies remain relatively fragmented and lack systematic analysis. Bibliometrics (12,13) is a research field that focuses on analyzing the quantity, quality, citation and impact of scientific literature, and it is a scientific method for investigating publications on specific topics (14). After Eugene Garfield established the Science Citation Index (15,16), bibliometrics has gradually been developed into a methodology that makes use of statistics, computer science, and informatics. By analyzing data such as the counts of scientific publications (17), citations, and author collaborations, it reveals the trends of influence in scientific research, interdisciplinary studies, and academic work. Bibliometrics is widely applied in fields such as library science, information science, and scientometrics. The CiteSpace software, developed by a team from the University of Pittsburgh in the USA, is a tool used for bibliometric and scientific knowledge mapping analysis. Through the visual analysis of the co-citation of documents, keywords, and author collaboration networks, it helps researchers identify disciplinary hotspots, development trends, and knowledge structures (18). The advantage of CiteSpace lies in its intuitive visualization effects, and it is capable of revealing the development course of a field in the temporal dimension. Compared with traditional literature reviews or simple statistical methods, it not only improves the analysis efficiency but also reduces subjective biases. It is especially suitable for the analysis of large-scale literature data, enabling researchers to quickly obtain an overview of the field and stay informed about the latest trends at the forefront.

NB has long been the focus of many publications. However, in recent years, there have been no literature that systematically combs its knowledge area and research trends from the perspective of bibliometrics. In 2015, Gao et al. (19) conducted a visual analysis of the research in this field over the past 20 years. With the progress and development of the discipline, scholars have been delving deeper into the research on NB. In recent years, there has been a lack of summarization of the research on the knowledge domain and research trends of NB. Since 2015, with the rapid development of scientific research, the extensive application of emerging technologies and research methods has propelled the continuous evolution of this field. In order to systematically summarize the latest research achievements in the past decade, identify the current academic frontiers, and look ahead to the future development trends, it is necessary to conduct a new bibliometric analysis. This analysis will provide data support for further exploration of the key issues in the discipline and offer theoretical basis and practical guidance for subsequent research. Therefore, in this study, we used the most advanced bibliometric methods to re-analyze and map the NB-related publications from 2015 to 2025. Compared with previous relevant studies, we placed the previous research on NB within a more comprehensive research framework and specifically analyzed the research frontiers of NB. In addition, we also analyzed the publications of authors, years, countries/regions, journals, and the most cited papers, revealing the current research trends and determining the hotspots in NB, so as to provide valuable insights and perspectives for scholars. We present this article in accordance with the BIBLIO reporting checklist (available at https://tau.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/tau-2025-aw-798/rc).


Methods

Data acquisition and search strategy

We utilized the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) for this bibliometric analysis, as it is the established standard for citation-based studies. Its comprehensive coverage of high-impact journals and standardized citation format ensures reliable results when analyzed with CiteSpace (20,21).

The literature search in the WoSCC was accomplished within a single day. This 1-day search duration was implemented to minimize potential biases caused by database updates. The search terms utilized in this study were as follows: the subject terms were [(TS=(Neurogenic Urinary Bladder) OR TS=(Neurogenic Bladder) OR TS=(Neurogenic Bladder Disorder) OR TS=(Neurogenic Dysfunction of the Urinary Bladder) OR TS=(Neurogenic Bladder Disorders) OR TS=(Neuropathic Bladder) OR TS=(Urinary Bladder Neurogenic Dysfunction) OR TS=(Neurogenic Urinary Bladder Disorder) OR TS=(Urinary Bladder Neurogenesis) OR TS=(Bladder Neurogenesis) OR TS=(Atonic Neurogenic Bladder) OR TS=(Spastic Neurogenic Bladder) OR TS=(Uninhibited Neurogenic Bladder) OR TS=(neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction)]. To systematically evaluate current research status, hotspots, and emerging trends in NB, we defined our search period from January 2015 to December 2025. To ensure analytical consistency and minimize geographical bias in publication patterns, the search was restricted to English-language articles and reviews. Publications in other languages and different types such as conference abstracts, conference papers, editorials, letters, and early access materials were not included.

Complete bibliographic records, including full metadata and cited references, were exported and stored as plain text files to maintain data integrity and ensure future accessibility.

Statistical analysis

We conducted a bibliometric analysis of 4,180 NB-related literature sources using CiteSpace (version 6.2.R4). This software offers precise literature retrieval capabilities and allows researchers to identify and analyze relationships between different research topics. The study’s results provide valuable insights into the current state of NB research and highlight areas for future investigation. The visual network map created by CiteSpace is composed of nodes and links, where each node represents entities such as authors, institutions, or countries. Connections between nodes illustrate relationships including collaboration, co-citation, or co-occurrence. Link thickness reflects the strength of collaboration, while nodes with higher centrality scores—indicated by larger node sizes—signify key players within the research domain.

The bibliometric analysis incorporated publication records spanning January 2015 to June 2025, with a time slice of 1 year, a threshold of top 50, and selected the network crop as “Path Network” and “Cluster Network for Each Slice” for output trimming. Nodes were defined as countries, institutions, authors, keywords, journals co-cited, and references co-cited. We constructed and analyzed a knowledge graph of NB research using these nodes. Microsoft Excel 2021 was employed for comprehensive data management, including the organization and validation of CiteSpace-exported metrics, creation of refined charts and tables, and systematic archiving of analytical outputs.


Results

Annual output and categories

The WoSCC database search initially identified 4,180 NB-related publications from 2015 to 2025. Annual publication volume fluctuations reflect research activity levels and topic-specific attention. As shown in Figure 1, despite yearly variations, NB publications demonstrated an overall upward trajectory over the past decade, indicating growing scholarly interest and hotspot status. The decade’s progression comprised three distinct phases: initial steady growth [2015–2018], rapid development [2018–2020], and stabilized growth [2020–2025]. The annual average reached 392 publications, ranging from 291 [2015] to 485 [2022], highlighting the field’s evolution and increasing academic focus.

Figure 1 Annual publication volume trend of publications.

Analysis of author

The author with the highest number of publications is Hann-Chorng Kuo, who has published 81 articles. Additionally, Hann-Chorng Kuo has the highest centrality value, which is 0.07. Following Hann-Chorng Kuo are Blayne Welk and Thomas M. Kessler. The situations of other authors are shown in Table 1 and Figure 2.

Table 1

The top 10 authors on NB from 2015 to 2024

Ranking Author Count Centrality
1 Hann-Chorng Kuo 87 0.05
2 Blayne Welk 77 0.2
3 Thomas M. Kessler 44 0.11
4 John T. Stoffel 43 0.01
5 Sean P. Elliott 35 0.01
6 Veronique Phe 35 0.09
7 Rose Khavari 34 0.02
8 Benoit Peyronnet 31 0.02
9 Jeremy B. Myers 29 0
10 Yuan-Hong Jiang 28 0

NB, neurogenic bladder.

Figure 2 The network of co-authorship.

Analysis of journals

From 2015 to 2025, the top three journals in terms of the number of publications are as follows: “Neurourology and Urodynamics” with 442 articles, “Journal of Urology” with 213 articles, and “Journal of Pediatric Urology” with 208 articles. Table 2 provides detailed information about other major publishing journals.

Table 2

The top 10 journals on NB from 2015 to 2024

Ranking Journal Count Centrality IF
1 Neurourology and Urodynamics 442 0.02 1.8
2 Journal of Urology 213 0.03 5.9
3 Journal of Pediatric Urology 208 0.01 2.0
4 Urology 98 0.01 2.1
5 World Journal of Urology 74 0 2.8
6 Spinal Cord 72 0.01 2.1
7 Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine 61 0 1.8
8 Progrès en Urologie 60 0.01 1.1
9 Current Bladder Dysfunction Reports 53 0.01 0.2
10 Toxins 53 0.01 3.9

IF, impact factor; NB, neurogenic bladder.

Analysis of countries

From 2015 to 2025, 77 countries/regions contributed to 4,757 NB-related publications. CiteSpace analysis revealed a country/region network with 112 nodes and 880 links (Figure 3). Table 3 displays the top 10 most productive countries/regions. The USA dominated with 1,131 publications, establishing itself as the global NB research hub. Other leading contributors included China (314 papers), England [272], France [251], and Canada [231]. Regarding centrality, England ranked highest (0.29), followed by the USA (0.25), Italy (0.12), Canada (0.08), and Germany (0.08), demonstrating strong collaborative ties. While England’s publication count was relatively modest, its central network position underscored its research significance. China produced 231 publications but showed limited network influence (centrality 0.04).

Figure 3 The network of co-country.

Table 3

Top 10 countries in the NB study

Ranking Country Count Centrality
1 USA 1,314 0.25
2 China 530 0.03
3 England 309 0.29
4 France 286 0.11
5 Canada 266 0.06
6 Italy 226 0.14
7 Japan 222 0.02
8 Germany 204 0.07
9 Switzerland 159 0.01
10 Brazil 143 0.05

NB, neurogenic bladder.

Analysis of institutions

In the field of NB research, contributions have been made by 77 distinct institutions. Using CiteSpace, a collaboration network was generated comprising 429 nodes and 1,626 links (Figure 4), where each node represents an institution. The size of each node corresponds to the institution’s publication output, while the connections between nodes denote inter-institutional collaborations. The color of each link signifies the initiation period of the collaboration, and the thickness reflects its intensity. Table 4 presents the ten most prolific institutions in NB research, with the top five being: Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris (AP-HP, 136 publications), Sorbonne Université [106], Pennsylvania Commonwealth System of Higher Education (PCSHE, 93), Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital [92], and University of London [92]. Notably, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital had the highest centrality (0.07), indicating a pivotal role in the research network. These institutions demonstrate sustained engagement in NB research and possess considerable academic strength and global influence.

Figure 4 The network of co-institutions.

Table 4

Top 10 institutions in the NB study

Ranking Institution Count Centrality
1 AP-HP 151 0.03
2 Sorbonne Universite 123 0.03
3 PCSHE 110 0.05
4 University of Michigan System 109 0.01
5 University of London 107 0.03
6 Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital 99 0.07
7 Tzu Chi University 97 0.03
8 University of California System 95 0.03
9 University of Pittsburgh 92 0.03
10 Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital 88 0.01

AP-HP, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris; NB, neurogenic bladder; PCSHE, Pennsylvania Commonwealth System of Higher Education.

References analysis

Highly cited documents have provided a crucial foundation for advancing research and have significantly contributed to the development of the field (17). Table 5 summarizes the top 10 most frequently cited publications, including 3 guidelines, 3 terminology reports, 2 original research articles, and 2 review papers. The five most cited documents (Figure 5) are, in descending order: Groen J (117 citations) (Groen et al., 2016), Gajewski JB (81 citations) (Gajewski et al., 2018), Panicker JN (72 citations) (Panicker et al., 2015), Stein R (62 citations) (Stein et al., 2020), and Rosier PFWM (57 citations) (Rosier et al., 2017).

Table 5

The top 10 cited articles in NB

Ranking Literature Author Category Count Year
1 Summary of European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines on Neuro-Urology Groen J Guideline 115 2016
2 An International Continence Society (ICS) report on the terminology for adult neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (ANLUTD) Gajewski JB Term report 81 2018
3 The AUA/SUFU Guideline on Adult Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction: Diagnosis and Evaluation Ginsberg DA Guideline 73 2021
4 EAU/ESPU guidelines on the management of neurogenic bladder in children and adolescent part I diagnostics and conservative treatment Stein R Guideline 72 2020
5 Lower urinary tract dysfunction in the neurological patient: clinical assessment and management Panicker JN Review 67 2015
6 Neurogenic Bladder: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management Panicker JN Review 60 2020
7 Patient Reported Bladder Related Symptoms and Quality of Life after Spinal Cord Injury with Different Bladder Management Strategies Myers JB Research article 60 2019
8 International Continence Society Good Urodynamic Practices and Terms 2016: Urodynamics, uroflowmetry, cystometry, and pressure-flow study Rosier PFWM Term report 57 2017
9 The AUA/SUFU Guideline on Adult Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction: Treatment and Follow-up Ginsberg DA Guideline 57 2021
10 Phase 3 efficacy and tolerability study of onabotulinumtoxinA for urinary incontinence from neurogenic detrusor overactivity Ginsberg D Research article 55 2012

AUA/SUFU, American Urological Association/Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction; NB, neurogenic bladder.

Figure 5 The network of co-cited references.

Analysis of keywords

Keyword co-occurrence

Analyzing the frequency of keywords within a particular research domain is instrumental in uncovering prevailing themes and emerging trends. By designating keywords as nodes, a co-occurrence visualization map can be constructed (Table 6 and Figure 6). The keyword co-occurrence analysis based on publications from 2015 to 2024 in the WoSCC database related to NB indicated that “spinal cord injury” appeared most frequently, followed by “management” and “bladder”.

Table 6

The top 10 keywords cited articles in the NB study

Ranking Keyword Count Centrality
1 Spinal cord injury 685 0.01
2 Management 553 0.01
3 Bladder 417 0
4 Children 387 0.02
5 Quality of life 367 0.01
6 Dysfunction 350 0.02
7 Overactive bladder 348 0
8 Urinary bladder 335 0
9 Urinary incontinence 318 0.01
10 Neurogenic detrusor overactivity 273 0.03

NB, neurogenic bladder.

Figure 6 The network of co-occurring keywords.

Keyword burst

In CiteSpace, “burst keywords” refer to terms that show a sudden increase in frequency within a specific time period, often indicating emerging trends and frontiers in a research field. The keyword burst analysis for NB from 2015 to 2025 is illustrated along a horizontal timeline, with red segments highlighting periods of peak burst intensity (Figure 7). Keywords such as “population”, “placebo controlled trial”, “regeneration”, “reconstruction”, “trial”, “myelodysplasia”, and “spinal-cord-injury” have consistently appeared in earlier studies, reaching peak burst strength at different stages before gradually being superseded. More recent burst keywords—“infection”, “American Urological Association/Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction (AUA/SUFU) guideline”, “volume”, and “urodynamic study”—suggest possible directions for future research attention.

Figure 7 Top 25 keywords with the strongest citation bursts.

These systematic bibliometric patterns reveal fundamental structural and temporal characteristics of the NB research landscape. Building upon these quantitative foundations, the Discussion section will contextualize these findings within current clinical practice gaps and emerging research priorities.


Discussion

NB represents a significant clinical challenge in urology, arising from neurological impairment of bladder and urethral function (22). The condition’s complex pathophysiology and profound impact on patient quality of life have driven substantial research efforts, as evidenced by our comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the past decade’s literature. Our findings reveal distinct patterns in international collaborations, evolving research themes, and knowledge dissemination that collectively inform our understanding of the field’s current state.

Research frontiers and developmental trends

A steady growth trajectory was observed in global NB publications between 2015 and 2025, with accelerated increases recorded from 2015 to 2019 followed by a period of stable development from 2020 to 2024. The highest publication output was achieved in 2022. The promulgation of the 2022 European Association of Urology Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Female Non-neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms has catalyzed a substantial refinement in clinical management strategies, driving an evolution towards more sophisticated and evidence-based therapeutic paradigms for this prevalent condition.

The top five contributing journals were Journal of Urology, Neurourology and Urodynamics, Urology, European Urology, and BJU International. Regarding international collaboration networks, the USA, United Kingdom, and China emerged as key contributors, with the USA demonstrating the most intensive research engagement. Countries with higher research levels primarily appear among economically developed nations. Multidimensional linkages among these nations have significantly advanced NB-related studies. Institutional analysis revealed that medical schools and research-intensive universities constituted the primary research entities. By leveraging its interdisciplinary advantages and resource barriers to establish research dominance, it can become the core research entity in the field of NB through clinical-basic research integration capabilities and academic ecosystem incentives. Specifically, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital maintained close collaborative relationships with other medical institutions, establishing itself as a long-term influential contributor in this field. Conversely, while AP-HP produced the highest number of publications, its limited inter-institutional cooperation underscores the necessity for enhanced cross-regional academic exchanges and technology transfer to diversify NB research content and promote multidisciplinary development.

Keywords serve as critical indicators of core research foci and key information, providing concise summaries of study content while reflecting underlying mechanisms, influencing factors, and risk determinants. Both domestic and international studies identified overlapping high-frequency keywords such as “spinal cord injury”, “bladder”, and “dysfunction”. Chinese research uniquely emphasized traditional Chinese medicine therapies like acupuncture and electroacupuncture, whereas international literature demonstrated stronger focus on pediatric NB. Researchers have shown particular interest in exploring the bidirectional relationships between NB and SCI, as well as their impacts on quality of life outcomes. Emerging keywords offer predictive insights into research frontiers and trends. Both Chinese and international scholars have prioritized investigations into NB incidence and influencing factors, with clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) constituting the dominant study design. From 2017 to 2022, research hotspots included myelodysplasia and spinal fractures, with therapeutic strategies centered on neuromodulation and pharmacotherapy. However, this field currently lacks large-sample, multi-center RCTs, and existing studies require methodological improvements in trial design and quality control. Recent trends suggest potential future research directions in volume and urodynamics, and infections.

Therapeutic strategies and technology development

NB treatment should address both voiding and storage dysfunction simultaneously, aiming to improve bladder compliance, reduce intravesical pressure, and facilitate effective micturition. Current NB therapies are primarily divided into conservative treatment and surgical treatment. Conservative approaches include pharmacotherapy, intermittent catheterization techniques, and behavioral training. Commonly used medications consist of anticholinergic agents, β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) agonists, and botulinum toxin (23). β3-AR agonists, typified by mirabegron, have been shown to regulate detrusor muscle tone by inhibiting contractile responses and promoting bladder smooth muscle relaxation, thereby increasing functional bladder capacity. Clinical trials have demonstrated their safety and efficacy in managing NB dysfunction (24). Anticholinergic agents are first-line medications for the clinical treatment of NB. They function by competitively inhibiting the muscarinic receptors M2 and M3 on the bladder wall, leading to detrusor relaxation and a reduction in intravesical pressure. Consequently, this increases the bladder capacity and reduces UI caused by detrusor overactivity (25). It is reported that solifenacin is more persistent and better tolerated by patients compared with other cholinergic drugs. A recent systematic review has shown that there is no significant difference in safety and efficacy between the combination of α1-blocker and mirabegron and that of α1-blocker and anticholinergic drugs (26).

While these medications help regulate bladder function, alleviate detrusor overactivity, and improve bladder capacity, surgical interventions are indicated for patients refractory to conservative management. These typically include cystostomy, augmentation cystoplasty, and sacral neuromodulation (SNM) (27). Surgical interventions aim to directly improve voiding function and enhance patient quality of life. Specifically, SNM is currently the most widely adopted minimally invasive therapy, recognized for its safety and efficacy (28). SNM is indicated for patients with refractory urinary dysfunction unresponsive to behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy. The mechanism involves interrupting afferent pathways to the sacral spinal cord, thereby inhibiting detrusor contractions and alleviating symptoms such as urinary frequency and urgency. Urodynamic studies demonstrate that SNM increases maximum cystometric capacity, which not only reduces voiding frequency and intravesical pressure during the storage phase but also decreases nocturia (29).

Recent research (30) has shown that Vesusten, a novel polypeptide drug, can effectively treat NB. However, there are currently few related studies, and its safety remains to be proven by a large number of samples. Advances in regenerative medicine, particularly tissue engineering and stem cell therapy, offer promising avenues for NB management. Tissue engineering strategies integrate stem cells with bioactive molecules—including growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines—to restore, replace, or regenerate damaged urinary tract tissues (31). Stem cells possess self-renewal and differentiation potential, a property harnessed for repairing and regenerating damaged tissues. A prospective research demonstrated that the first combined application of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and Schwann cells effectively improved NB (32). However, Phase II clinical trials are currently ongoing, which offer hope to NB patients.


Conclusions

NB research is advancing rapidly, with emerging hotspots including infection control, AUA/SUFU guideline implementation, and bladder volume management. Current studies prioritize basic mechanisms and technological innovation, yet systematic clinical translation and quality-of-life improvements lag behind—especially in these nascent fields. The USA leads global research output, with bladder capacity and urodynamics emerging as critical future directions. Fragmented collaboration networks reveal an urgent need for national alliances to consolidate resources and shift from isolated studies to integrated solutions. Our study outlines key trends in NB research, providing actionable insights to guide future investigations and clinical practice.


Acknowledgments

We sincerely appreciate Director Weijing Liao, the chief expert of the Department of Neurorehabilitation at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, for his invaluable guidance and support throughout this research. His expertise and insights have significantly contributed to the completion of this study.


Footnote

Reporting Checklist: The authors have completed the BIBLIO reporting checklist. Available at https://tau.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/tau-2025-aw-798/rc

Peer Review File: Available at https://tau.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/tau-2025-aw-798/prf

Funding: This work was supported by Discipline Cultivation Project of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University (Department of Neurological Rehabilitation) (ZNXKPY2023021) and Clinical Nursing Research Project of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in 2023 (LCHLYJ202302).

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://tau.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/tau-2025-aw-798/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.


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Cite this article as: Peng Y, Huang J, Peng M, Wang Y, Gao G, Zhang Q. Present research and emerging trends in neurogenic bladder research: a bibliometric and visualization analysis (2015–2025). Transl Androl Urol 2026;15(2):37. doi: 10.21037/tau-2025-aw-798

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