Objective To explore the clinical efficacy and nursing experience of the mild moxibustion combined with acupoint massage therapy on the urinary retention patients after orthopedic surgery . Methods Sixty-eight urinary retention patients after orthopedic surgery from January 2012 to April 2013 were chosen and divided into the control group and the observation group according to the random number table , each with 34 cases.The control group received the routine induced urination , and the observation group received the mild moxibustion combined with acupoint massage .The clinical efficacy , the significantly effective and effective times of micturition were observed and compared in two groups .Results The total effective rate , the significantly effective and effective times of micturition were respectively 85.3%, (21.0 ±5.0) min, (34.0 ±6.0) min in the observation group, and were 55.9%, (29.0 ±6.0) min, (39.0 ±7.0) min in the observation group, and the differences were statistically significant (χ2 =7.08,t=2.81,2.64, respectively;P<0.05).Conclusions The mild moxibustion combined with acupoint massage therapy on the urinary retention patients after orthopedic surgery can significantly increase the clinical efficacy , and improve the prognosis of patients , and is worthy of clinical promotion .