Effects of electroacupuncture combined with clean intermittent catheterization on urinary retention after spinal cord injury: a single blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) on spinal cord injury (SCI) induced urinary retention.

Methods: A total of 107 patients with SCI induced urinary retention were randomly divided into 3 groups, including group 1 (CIC treatment), group 2 (EA combined with CIC treatment), and group 3 (sham acupuncture combined with CIC treatment). After different treatments, the residual urine volume, voided volume (each time), number of bladder balance patients, and frequency of CIC were recorded and compared.

Results: There were no significant differences between group 1 and 3 in number of bladder balance patients and voided volume (ml) at the 1(st) month. The rate of patients reaching bladder balance was significantly higher in group 2 than group 1 and 3 (P<0.05). The frequency of CIC was significantly less in group 2 than the other groups (P<0.001). The voided volume at the 1(st) and the 3(rd) month after surgery was significantly higher in group 2 than that in group 1 and 3 (P<0.001). Meanwhile, after 1 month and 3 months of treatment, residual urine volume was significantly reduced in group 2 compared with that in group 1 and 3 (P<0.001).

Conclusion: The therapeutic effects of EA were effective for SCI induced urinary retention by reducing residual urine volume and the frequency of CIC, increasing voided volume, and promoting the balance of vesical function.