Abstract: (SCI) to find optimal locations for electroacupuncture. Methods 108 incomplete SCI patients were selected following International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ASIA 2006) and randomly assigned to urethral catheterization group, control group, and experiment group with 36 cases in each group. The urethral catheterization group was only given intermittent catheterization, the control group was given electroacupuncture of Baliao (BL31 to BL34) and Huiyang (BL35) as the main points and intermittent catheterization, and the experiment group was treated with transcranial electrical stimulation of foot motor sensory area and Abdominal Area Six as the main points and intermittent catheterization. They were assessed with voiding diary and urodynamic test before and after treatment. Results There were significant differences among the urethral catheterization group, the control group, and the experiment group in automatic micturition volume, urethral catheter output and residual urine volume after treatment (P<0.05). Detrusor pressure and reflection was significantly different in the control group and the experiment group before and after treatment (P<0.05), but not in the urethral catheterization group (P>0.05). There was significant difference in detrusor pressure and reflection in the urethral catheterization group from both the control group and the experiment group after treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture can promote automatic micturition in patients with detrusor areflexia neurogenic bladder after incomplete SCI.

Key words: spinal cord injuries, neurogenic bladder, electroacupuncture, urodynamics