Intratympanic Steroid Injection in Tinnitus Management / 한양의대학술지

ABSTRACT

Intratympanic (IT) steroid injection has been used increasingly in various inner ear diseases instead of systemic steroid, because of the higher concentration of the drug into the target organ and the lower risk of the systemic side effect. Although there were several trials applying IT steroid injection on tinnitus, most of them failed to demonstrate its therapeutic effect more than controls. However, a study has shown a meaningful outcome when the therapeutic target is limited to acute tinnitus developed within 3 months. Although IT steroid injection treatment in tinnitus requires more evidence, when the therapeutic target is limited to the acute phase, IT steroid injection could be a treatment option for tinnitus. Early intervention, asymmetric hearing loss and unilateral tinnitus seem to be favorable factors for outcome of IT steroid injection.