Mapping the Research Landscape of Cleft Lip and Palate Management: Insights From a Bibliometric Perspective

Background: Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is the most common congenital anomalous deformity of the oral face, and treatment of CLP has changed dramatically with the development of surgical techniques and advances in humanistic medicine. However, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research trends in this field is still lacking. Methods: The authors systematically analyzed 3994 publications related to CLP treatment in the Web of Science Core Collection from 2005 to 2024 by bibliometric methods. Results: The results showed that global CLP research has shown a continuous growth trend, with the USA leading the way with 1084 publications, and the United Kingdom and The Netherlands significantly leading the way in terms of publication quality (average number of citation 26.13/24.76). Core research institutions include University of Sao Paulo and Chang Gung Hospital. Core authors Shi Bing and Semb Gunvor lead the field with 45 and 44 publications, respectively. Keyword analysis reveals that research hotspots have shifted from basic repair to multidimensional rehabilitation, including emerging directions such as symmetry aesthetics, orthodontic treatment, and speech therapy. Clustering of co-cited literature identified 19 themes, highlighting the importance of nonsurgical dimensions such as psychological adjustment and unmet needs. Conclusion: This study reveals for the first time the evolution of the knowledge structure of CLP treatment through visual analysis, providing valuable insights into clinical care and contributing to the advancement of the field of CLP management.