[Course and prognosis analysis of intratympanic dexamethasone in the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss].

To compare the recovery of different times of intratympanic dexamethasone in the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL) and investigate the related prognostic factors. Ninety patients with SSNHL were randomly divided into group A(3 times, every 2 days) and group B(5 times, every 2 days) according to the times of intratympanic dexamethasone. All patients were treated with blood flow promoting agents and neural nutrients. After 2 weeks of treatment, the recovery was compared. Based on treatment outcomes, patients were divided into two groups: recovery and no recovery, we evaluated the possible prognostic factors. In the group A, the threshold improvement was(20.2±16.7) dB HL and the overall recovery rate was 78.7%(complete recovery rate, marked recovery rate and recovery rate were 17.0%, 21.3% and 40.4%, respectively), in the group B, the threshold improvement was(20.4±17.4) dB HL and the overall recovery rate was 81.4%, the complete recovery rate, marked recovery rate and recovery rate were 20.9%, 32.6% and 27.9%, respectively, the differences of recovery variables between the 2 groups were not statistically significant. After 2 weeks of treatment, 71 patients got overall recovery(78.9%), 19 patients(21.1%) resulted in no recovery, Interval between onset of symptoms and therapy of recovery group was shorter than that in no recovery group ［(5.6±3.6）days vs. （7.7±4.0）days, <0.05］, the presence rate of vertigo in recovery group was lower than that in no recovery(14.1% vs. 68.4%, <0.01). Gender, ear side, age, concurrence of tinnitus, initial hearing threshold, times of intratympanic dexamethasone and audiogram have no influence on the prognosis of SSNHL. SSNHL patients treated with 3 times and 5 times of intratympanic dexamethasone got similar results. Earlier treatment and absence of vertigo lead to favorable hearing results.