Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the nursing management of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) of spinal cord injured (SCI) patients.Methods72 SCI patients were randomly divided into two groups: CIC group (37 cases) and sterile intermittent catheterization (SIC) group (35cases); urine cultures were performed before and after catheterization in each group, hand cultures were also performed before catheterization only in CIC group. Results10 cases of CIC group and 11 cases of SIC group had different results of urine culture before and after intermittent catheterization, but there was no statistical difference between two groups (P>0.05). 5 cases had positive results of hand culture, but the colony counting was in the normal range. Follow up was made six months after intermittent catheterization. There were 35 cases (94.59%) in CIC group and 33 cases (94.29%) in SIC group who could urinate regularly with post void residual less than 50 ml. One case in each group had symptomatic urinary tract infection respectively. ConclusionsCIC is a simple, safe and effective method to resolve the bladder dysfunction of SCI patients.

Key words: spinal cord injury, clean intermittent catheterization, rehabilitation, nursing