ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF VESICLE AND ANAL FUNCTIONAL DISORDER RESULTED FROM OCCULT SPINA BIFIDA OF THE SACRAL REGION

An Xichuan, Zhao Haisheng, Li Xiaochun, Tang Yuying, Sun Jing, Liu ?ie, Hao Gang, Yi Jingqiu, Yu Yaxin, Zhang Guocheng.

(Department of TCM, The First Hospital, Bethune Medical University, Changchun)

The occult sacral spina bifida is much commonly seen, its occurrence reaching 34%, According to our 3008 general check-ups, 0.3% of them occur with various vesicle and anal functional disorders which make patients feel painful and are manifested by the symptoms such as at sensation of urination and defecation, dribbling of urine, enuresis, retention of urine, dysuria and incontinence etc. The disease is so different from the dominant sacral spina bifida that it is often diagnosed and treated incorrectly because its signs are occult, 18% of this group were wrongly diagnosed. The disease is greatly pernicious to the human body. Since its treatment is still a difficult problem, we have obtained better results with acupuncture. Since 1970-1982, 254 cases have been treated in our hospital.

Method of treatment: All patients received acupuncture treatment only. The acupuncture points were selected according to the symptoms, for those with dribblings of urine, Zhongji, Henggu and Sanyinjiao; for those with enuresis we took Huatuo Jiaji; for those with dysuria, Baihui, Shendao, Mingmen and Zhibian; and for those with anal incontinence, Changqiang, Huiyin and points around anus. The needles were retained for 20-30 minutes one time per day or every other day, one course being ten times and generally each patient received 3-5 courses.

Therapeutic effects were assessed according to the symptoms, volume of residual urine and uroflow rate etc. Excellent in 61 cases (24%), improved in 174 cases (69%), and ineffective in 19 cases (7%).

It was found that the remaining amount of urine in 115 cases decreased when the residual urine volume was monitored with sonolayergraph. 75 cases being examined with the uroflow meter, their discharging speed and volume of urine increased. The results mentioned above were statistically significant. These objective findings proved that both emptying ability and urinating function of the bladder were much improved after acupuncture therapy.

Long-term Effect: 101 cases who had improvement when discharged from the hospital were followed up for 1-12 years. The therapeutic effects have persisted in 50 cases (50%),. decreased in 30 (30%), vanished in 15 cases (15%), and 6 patients (5%) died during the period of severe urethral infections and uremia except one who died from hepatitis.