Acupuncture on clinical symptoms and urodynamic measurements in spinal-cord-injured patients with detrusor hyperreflexia.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the possible use of acupuncture for the treatment of urinary incontinence caused by detrusor hyperreflexia in patients with chronic spinal cord injuries.


METHODS
A total of 13 patients (11 males, 2 females) suffering from urinary incontinence due to spinal cord injuries were treated by acupuncture, which was carried out with disposable stainless steel needles inserted into the bilateral BL-33 (Zhongliao) points on the skin of the third posterior sacral foramina. Urodynamic studies were also performed before acupuncture, immediately after the 1st acupuncture and 1 week after the 4th acupuncture. In 6 patients, these urodynamic studies were performed again 1 month after the 4th acupuncture.


RESULTS
No side effects were recognized throughout the treatment period. Of the 13 patients, incontinence disappeared in 2 (15%) and decreased to 50% or less compared to baseline in a further 6 (46%). Maximum cystometric bladder capacity increased significantly from 76.2 +/- 62.3 to 148.1 +/- 81.5 ml 1 week after the 4th acupuncture (p < 0.01). In the 6 patients in whom cystometry was repeated 1 month after the 4th acupuncture, bladder capacity decreased from 187.5 +/- 90.4 ml 1 week after the 4th acupuncture to 128.3 +/- 93.4 ml.


CONCLUSIONS
In spinal cord injury patients acupuncture could represent another valuable therapeutic alternative to the treatment of urinary incontinence caused by detrusor hyperreflexia.
Honjo
H
H
Department of Urology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kyoto, Japan.
Naya
Y
Y
Ukimura
O
O
Kojima
M
M
Miki
T
T
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000628:therapy*; D014563:Urodynamics