Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: Effectiveness of salvage treatment with low-dose intratympanic dexamethasone

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate hearing outcome of salvage treatment with intratympanic steroids (ITS) in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) refractory to initial systemic steroid (SS) therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective medical chart review was conducted on 54 consecutive patients with ISSNHL refractory to SS. Salvage treatment with a low dose intratympanic dexamethasone (4 mg/ml) was offered after one week of primary treatment. Patients were divided into two groups: 25 patients accepted ITS (treatment group) and 29 patients did not undergo additional treatment (control group). A pure tone average (PTA) gain of at least 10 dB was considered hearing improvement. RESULTS: Hearing improvement rate was higher in ITS group compared to control group (40% vs. 13.8%, p = 0.035). A mean PTA improvement of 8.6 ± 9.8 dB was observed in the ITS group and, whereas the control group had an average hearing gain of 0.7 ± 2 dB (p < 0.001). Audiometric analysis revealed a significant hearing gain in ITS group at all tested frequencies compared to control group (p < 0.05). Analysis of the selected variables, identified intratympanic steroid treatment as the only independent prognostic factor for hearing improvement (OR = 4.2, 95% CI: 1.1–15.7; p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Intratympanic low dose dexamethasone is effective in patients with incomplete hearing recovery after primary systemic steroid treatment.