Intratympanic Methylprednisolone Injection For Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Objective To investigate clinical efficacy of intratympanic Methylprednisolone injection(IMI). for patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSHL) who failed systemic corti-costeroid treatment , in order to evaluate that IMI medication is a way of supplementary treatment for patients with SSHL who failed systemic corticosteroid treatment or not.Methods Subjects received an course of 20[mg/(L*3d)] Methylprednisolone intratympanic injection, raise the head for 45 degrees and turn face 45 degrees to the direction of health ear, and then keep for 30 min, in order to make the solution of Methylprednisolone contact with round window niches completely. Pure-tone averages(PTA) calculated using air conduction thresholds at 3-frequencies(500,1 000, 2 000 Hz)at pre-injection and 2 days after post-injection were compared. The change in PTA greater than 15 dB HL was considered to be effective.Result PTA at pre-injection and post-injection were(67. 59±16. 57) dB HL and (53. 65±18. 75) dB HL respectively in 47 patients with SSHL who failed systemic corticosteroid treatment.There was significant improvement in PTA (P< 0.01). Improvement in hearing was found in 29.8% patients. Promising results of IMI were found in cases with shorter duration or / and without vertigo. Tinnitus and Diabetes have no impaction on the treatment .No unexpected adverse events such as otitis media or perforated tympanic membrane or worsening in hearing occurred during the injection or follow-up period.Conclusion IMI is a way of supplementary treatment for patients with SSHL who failed systemic corticosteroid treatment and it can avoid the side-effects brought by high dose systemic corticosteroid treatment. It is safe, economic, convenient and can be operated in clinic.