What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness of intratympanic steroid injections versus hyperbaric oxygen therapy as salvage treatments for refractory sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
What They Found
Analyzing data from 314 subjects across 3 observational studies and 1 randomized controlled trial, the researchers found no significant differences in mean post-treatment hearing gain between intratympanic steroid and hyperbaric oxygen therapy groups. Improvements in word discrimination and hearing gain across various frequencies (250-8000 Hz) were also comparable between the two salvage treatments.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with refractory sudden sensorineural hearing loss who have not responded to initial treatment may consider either intratympanic steroid injections or hyperbaric oxygen therapy as salvage options. The choice between these two treatments could depend on factors like availability, patient preference, and potential side effects.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this meta-analysis is the potential for spontaneous recovery to bias treatment outcomes, and it included a limited number of studies and subjects.