Sudden sensorineural hearing loss ; Intratympanic dexamethasone treatment
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Intratympanic steroid injection is used for treatment of various
inner ear diseases including intractable sudden sensorineural hearing loss. We studied the effectiveness
of intratympanic steroid injection for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL)
and compared the effectiveness to other treatments as a primary treatment tool. Subjects
and Methods: We reviewed the records of 371 patients (373 ears) seen in the past six years
from January 2003 to June 2009 who had an initial diagnosis of idiopathic SSNHL. The patients
were divided into 6 groups which were 46 ears treated with topical steroids (S)(Group 1), 223
ears treated with S and heparinization (H)(Group 2), 82 ears treated with S, H and intratympanic
steroid injection (ITS)(Group 3), 9 ears treated with S, H, ITS and stellate ganglion
block (SGB)(Group 4), 47 ears treated with S, H and SGB (Group 5), and 11 ears treated with
ITS (Group 6). Results: There was no statistical difference among the treatment results of all
groups. The hearing range of the air-conduction was statistically significant in the success
group. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that ITS did not result in significant
improvement in the treatment of SSNHL compared to other treatment.