The effect of intra-tympanic dexamethasone on the vestibular function in patients with recurrent vertigo.

CONCLUSION

The low clinical efficacy of the treatment for patients included in this work correlates with no noticeable effect on the vestibular function.

OBJECTIVE

To assess follow-up in patients with idiopathic and secondary Ménière's disease after treatment with intra-tympanic dexamethasone and correlate clinical findings with changes in the vestibular-ocular reflex elicited after stimulation of each of the six semicircular canals.

METHODS

This is a single center retrospective review of patients presenting the clinical symptomatology of Meniérè's disease treated with intra-tympanic dexamethasone. An audiometric evaluation was performed in each patient before and after treatment. The study cohort was divided into two groups: those evaluated after a short period of time and after a long period of time.

RESULTS

The study included 30 patients, mean age = 61 years. Differences in mean pure-tone average before and after treatment were non-significant for both treated (0.61 dB, p = 0.723) and untreated (0.59 dB, p = 0.609) ears. Vestibular-ocular reflex gain averages in the treated ear after treatment were 0.73 (superior semicircular canal), 0.86 (horizontal semicircular canal), and 0.69 (posterior semicircular canal). The gain did not vary significantly in the Superior (p = 0.194), the Horizontal (p = 0.646), or the Posterior Semicircular Canal (p = 0.820). Similar were obtained for the untreated ear.