Electroacupuncture for Chronic Urinary Retention After Lumbosacral Surgery: A Prospective Single‐Arm Study

Objectives This study preliminarily evaluated the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) in managing chronic urinary retention (CUR) after lumbosacral surgery, aiming to explore alternative treatment strategies for this condition. Methods A prospective single‐arm intervention trial was conducted from September 1, 2019, to July 31, 2022. All participants received EA three times weekly for 2–12 weeks, followed by a 12‐week follow‐up post‐treatment. A responder was defined as a patient with a ≥ 50% reduction in postvoid residual urine (PVR) volume compared with baseline. The proportions of responders, changes in PVR from baseline, and proportions of patients with satisfactory spontaneous urination, severe urinary difficulty, stool retention, and a positive global impression of improvement were measured at Weeks 4, 8, 12, and 24. Results In 29 patients with postoperative CUR after lumbosacral surgery, EA treatment resulted in 55.2% achieving a ≥ 50% reduction in PVR, with a mean decrease of 268.2 mL from baseline, and 31.0% regained satisfactory spontaneous urination. Improvements were maintained through 24 weeks, with no serious adverse events reported. Conclusions EA may reduce PVR and help restore spontaneous urination in patients with postoperative CUR after lumbosacral surgery after lumbosacral surgery, demonstrating sustained benefits and favorable safety. Combined with its practicality and minimally invasive nature, EA may represent a promising therapeutic option for long‐standing postoperative postoperative CUR. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1800020222