ObjectiveTo investigate the efficiency of double moxibustion combined with intermittent catheterization on urination diary in patients with neurogenic bladder (NB) after spinal cord injury (SCI).MethodsFrom August 2014 to August 2016, hospitalized patients with NB after SCI were reviewed retrospectively and classified into the moxibustion group and the routine group. The urination diary related indicators, International Urinary Incontinence Advisory Committee Urinary Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICI-SQ-SF) score, and routine urine leucocyte count were collected.ResultsA total of 278 patients were enrolled in the study, in whom, the data of 96 were incomplete, and 26 got lost to follow-up. The routine group and the moxibustion group finally contained 70 and 86 respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups in sex, age, average course of the disease, SCI segment or grading of injury (P>0.05). After 2 months treatment, the urine routine leucocyte count decreased to (5.72± 0.36)/μL in the routine group and (3.22±0.27)/μL in the moxibustion group, and the ICI-Q-SF score decreased to 8.61±0.45 in the routine group and 5.07±0.38 in the moxibustion group. The urine routine leucocyte count and ICI-Q-SF score were lower than those before treatment, and were lower in the moxibustion group than those in the routine group (P<0.05). In the 7th to 8th week, in the routine group, the average single urine volume was (300±70) mL, the interval between two micturition was (3.5±0.6) hours, the frequency of urinary incontinence was (3.3±0.4) times per week, and the average residual urine volume was (125±42) mL; in the moxibustion group, they were (326±78) mL, (3.8±1.1) hours, (2.3±0.3) times per week, and (103±37) mL, respectively. The indexes were not statistically significant different from those in the 1st to 2nd week (P>0.05), except the average single urine volume in the routine group and all the indexes in the moxibustion group (P<0.05). They were all better in the moxibustion group than those in the routine group (P<0.05).ConclusionThe treatment of moxibustion and intermittent catheterization may improve bladder function, reduce residual urine, reduce urinary incontinence and improve the quality of life for patients with NB after SCI.