KEY POINTSÂ
This is a retrospective case series study examining the role of salvage
intratympanic steroid injections (ITS) in patients presenting with
idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) following poor
response to initial oral steroid treatment.
Pure tone thresholds were reviewed pre-treatment, post oral steroid
therapy and 6 weeks post ITS.
After oral steroid therapy alone, there was a mean average threshold
change of 6.2dBHL (range of -13.8dB to 33.8dB). This was found to be
statistically significant with severely affected patients (defined as
average presenting threshold >71dB).
The mean average threshold improvement post-ITS therapy was 2.9dB (range
of -22.5dB to 61.3dB), this was not found to be statistically
significant.
Some patients experienced moderate improvement following ITS therapy,
however no specific subgroup was identified to benefit more from ITS
therapy.