title: Acupuncture on clinical symptoms and urodynamic measurements in spinal-cord-injured patients with detrusor hyperreflexia.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Urology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Honjo
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Naya
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Ukimura
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kojima
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Miki
mesh_terms: 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