Localization of Ciliao （BL32）/Zhongliao （BL33） under ultrasound positioning and the correlation between the localization accuracy and therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on urinary retention after spinal cord injury

• Published in: 针刺研究
• Main Authors: DUAN Yi-xuan, ZHANG Zhao-qing, JU Shi-ru, LUO Xiao-juan, DENG Bing-feng, HU Fei, LIU Yi-yang
• Format: Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: Editorial Office of Acupuncture Research 2025-10-01
• Subjects: Spinal cord injury; Urinary retention; Ultrasound; Ciliao; Zhongliao; Electroacupuncture; Accuracy
• Online Access: http://www.zhenciyanjiu.cn/thesisDetails#10.13702/j.1000-0607.20250263
• ISSN: 1000-0607

ObjectiveTo observe the correlation between the localization accuracy and therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture （EA） at Ciliao （BL32） and Zhongliao （BL33） guided by ultrasonic precise positioning in treatment of urinary retention after spinal cord injury.MethodsFifty-two patients with urinary retention after spinal cord injury were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group， with 26 cases in each group. In the control group， the bladder function training method and EA at BL32 and BL33 were adopted for 4 weeks； and in the observation group， besides the bladder function training method， EA was delivered at BL32 and BL33 under the ultrasonic precise positioning for 4 weeks. The sonographic appearance at BL32 and BL33 was observed. The score of international lower urinary tract syndrome symptom scale （LUTS） was recorded， and voiding diary， residual urine volume， and urinary tract infection were compared before and after treatment between the two groups. By comparing the clinical evaluation of the positioning accuracy of BL32 and BL33 between the two groups， and analyzing the correlation between the indicators of positioning accuracy of BL32 and BL33 and LUTS score using Pearson correlation test， the accuracy of EA at BL32 and BL33 guided by ultrasonic precise positioning was evaluated， as well as its correlation with the therapeutic effect on urinary retention after spinal cord injury.ResultsThrough intention analysis， the LUTS score after treatment was reduced significantly compared with that before treatment in either group （<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05， <italic>P</italic>&lt;0.01）， and the score in the observation group was remarkably lower than that of the control group （<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.01）. Both groups showed the improvement in urination frequency， maximum urine volume， average urine volume and residual urine volume after treatment in comparison with those before treatment （<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05， <italic>P</italic>&lt;0.01）； the improvement in these indicators in the observation group was significantly better than that of the control group （<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05）. The positive rate of urinary tract infection （7/26， 26.9%） after treatment was remarkably reduced in comparison with that （16/26， 61.5%） before treatment in the observation group （<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.01）， and was better than that （12/26， 46.2%） of the control group （<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.01）. Regarding the clinical evaluation indicators related to the accuracy of positioning BL32 and BL33， the results in the observation group were superior to the control group （<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.01）； and these indicators were positively correlated with LUTS score after treatment in the two groups （<italic>r</italic>=0.625， <italic>P</italic>&lt;0.01）.ConclusionUltrasound guidance is conductive to the accurate localization of BL32 and BL33. EA at these two acupoints under the ultrasound obtains the more accuracy on the acupoint location and higher therapeutic effect on urinary retention after spinal cord injury.