Efficacy of Low-frequency Acupuncture Therapy based on Midnight-Noon Acupuncture for the Central Neurogenic Bladder: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and complications of low-frequency acupuncture therapy based on Midnight-Noon Acupuncture in the central neurogenic bladder (CNB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Sixty patients diagnosed with CNB without prior treatment were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (n=30) was treated with basic rehabilitation training, and the treatment group (n=30) was treated with basic rehabilitation training plus low-frequency acupuncture therapy based on Midnight-Noon Acupuncture flow injection for 4 weeks. The fixed acupuncture points selected were: Sanyinjiao (bilateral), Zhongji (unilateral), and Diji (unilateral). The study compared pre- and post-treatment clinical curative effects, urodynamic indicators, urination status, the Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score (NBSS), the Urinary Symptom Distress Scale (USDS), the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Inventory (WHOQOL-BREF), and the occurrence of adverse reactions and complications between the control group and treatment group. RESULTS: The overall efficacy rate of 96.67% in the treatment group was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the MBC, MFR, Pdet, DASUV, and WHOQOL-BREF scores significantly increased, while the RUV, DUF, DAUL, NBSS scores, and USDS scores all decreased between the two groups, with the treatment group showing significantly better results than the control group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in adverse reactions and complication rates between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Low-frequency acupuncture therapy based on Midnight-Noon Acupuncture significantly improves bladder function and alleviates urinary difficulties in CNB, demonstrating good safety and considerable clinical applicability.