Transtympanic injections
Transtympanic cortisone injections can be used as a treatment for sudden deafness or Ménière’s disease. Ménière’s disease is a disease of the inner ear that causes vertigo, tinnitus (ringing or noise in the ears) and hearing loss.
Cortisone can help reduce the pressure problems that cause Ménière’s disease. However, transtympanic cortisone injection is not considered a first-line treatment for Ménière’s disease. It is generally reserved for patients who have not responded to other treatments, such as antivertiginals, diuretics, glycerol, vestibular therapy and dietary modifications.
It is important to emphasise that transtympanic cortisone injection does not cure Ménière’s disease, but can reduce the frequency and intensity of attacks. Patients undergoing this procedure must be carefully monitored to avoid complications such as tympanic membrane perforations, ear infections and inner ear damage. Symptoms must also be assessed regularly to determine whether further injections are necessary.
In some particularly disabling and resistant cases, after a complete assessment of the auditory and vestibular function, cortisone injections may be replaced by injections of ototoxic products designed to destroy labyrinthine function (chemical labyrinthectomy).
