Objective To study the advance in the treatment of atonic bladder after spinal cord injury. Methods The rencent literature concerned was extensively reviewed and some methods of therapy for atonic bladder were introduced. Results No effective method of therapy was found for atonic bladder after spinal cord injury. When compared with clean intermittent catheterization, pharmacologic therapy, compressive micturition and detrusor function reconstruction, the establishment of an artificial bladder reflex arc may have a potential of controllable micturition. Conclusion To establish an artificial bladder reflex may provide an update of current therapeutic concepts for atonic bladder after spinalcord injury.