gms | German Medical Science

Background: Acute hearing loss is a common emergency in otolaryngology. Current therapies, such as the cortisone therapy does not always lead to a complete regression of profound hearing loss. In this retrospective study, the effect of an intratympanic insertion of a Gelitta-cortisone-sponge next to the round window membrane on the inner ear in treatment-resistant, acute unilateral hearing loss was analyzed.

Methods: All patients showed an acute, unilateral idiopathic hearing loss with a severe inner ear drop over several frequencies. They had no history of barotrauma and were already treated with high dose intravenous prednisolone over several days without hearing improvement. In theses cases a 4 mg Methylprednisolone soaked Gelitta-sponge was placed before the round window membrane via tympanoscopy in general or local anesthesia. Frequent audiology checks were performed postperative.

Results: Since august 2010 19 patients (7 women, 12 men/ 6 left ear, 13 right ear) were treaeted as described before. In audiology checks (one week and 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively) in 8 patients an improvement in hearing performance of at least 5 dB could be detected in the mean values of the measured frequencies in the bone-conducted hearing curve.

Defects of the tympanic membrane, inflammation of the middle ear, dizziness or tinnitus was not described postoperatively.

Conclusion: A tympanotomy with insertion of a cortisone-soaked Gelitta-sponge next to the round window membrane is in case of an acute hearing loss and failure of conventional intravenous prednisolone therapy, another treatment option for acute idiopathic sudden hearing loss.