OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy differences between regular acupuncture combined with acupuncture at trigone of urinary bladder and simple regular acupuncture for treatment of urination dysfunction induced by spinal cord injury.

METHODSSixty patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. The control group was treated with regular acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongwan (CV 12) and Tianshu (ST 25), etc. Based on the treatment of control group, the observation group was additionally treated with intensive needling at trigone of urinary bladder, once a day, 30 min per treatment. Ten treatments were considered as one course, and there was an interval of two days between courses, 4 courses of treatment were given in two groups. The improvement of urination function in two groups was evaluated, and the efficacy of urination function in two groups was compared.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the times of urine leakage, maximum urine output, bladder capacity and residual urine were all improved in two groups (all P<0.05). The improvement of times of urine leakage, bladder capacity and residual urine in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (all P<0.05). The total effective rate was 96.7% (29/30) in the observation group, which was superior to 83.3% (25/30) in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy of regular acupuncture combined with intensive needling at trigone of urinary bladder on urination dysfunction induced by spinal cord injury is significantly superior to that of simple regular acupuncture.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Urination ; Urination Disorders ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult