Department of Pain therapy, Pain Clinic De Bilt, De Bilt, The Netherlands.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Bergman Clinic, Almere, The Netherlands.
Int Tinnitus J. 2022 Mar 3;25(2):172-175. doi: 10.5935/0946-5448.20210031.
Vagal nerve stimulation is a promising therapy for tinnitus. Pulsed radiofrequency is a minimally invasive neuromodulator technique that could be applied repeatedly without damage to neural tissue. In this case-study we document the use of pulsed radiofrequency of the vagal nerve as a successful therapy without harm for patients with tinnitus.
A 22-gauge, 60 mm-long needle with a 5 mm active tip was placed percutaneously at the inner side of the tragus. The auricular branch of the vagal nerve was subjected to pulsed radiofrequency at 42 V, 2 Hz, and 10 milliseconds for 10 minutes.
Pulsed radiofrequency of the vagal nerve can reduce tinnitus and improve hearing in a patient with severe tinnitus and hearing loss. The intensity of the tinnitus was reduced to 5% of the original intensity at the left side and to 20% at the right side. An improved hearing of 20 to 30 dB from 250 Hz to 8 kHz in the left ear and from 250 Hz to 2 kHz in the right ear was objectivated in the audiogram.
This case-study document that PRF of the vagal nerve can reduce tinnitus and improve hearing in a patient with severe tinnitus and hearing loss. However, further research of PRF of the vagal nerve in tinnitus patients is needed.
迷走神经刺激是治疗耳鸣的一种很有前途的疗法。脉冲射频是一种微创神经调节技术，可以在不损伤神经组织的情况下反复应用。在本病例研究中，我们记录了使用迷走神经脉冲射频作为一种成功的治疗方法，而不会对耳鸣患者造成伤害。
将一根 22 号、60 毫米长、带有 5 毫米活动尖端的针经皮穿刺于耳廓内侧面。用 42V、2Hz、10 毫秒的脉冲射频刺激耳支迷走神经 10 分钟。
脉冲射频刺激迷走神经可以减轻耳鸣并改善严重耳鸣和听力损失患者的听力。左侧耳鸣强度降低到原来强度的 5%，右侧降低到 20%。在听力图中客观地证明了左耳从 250Hz 到 8kHz 和右耳从 250Hz 到 2kHz 的听力提高了 20 到 30dB。
本病例研究证明，迷走神经的 PRF 可以减轻严重耳鸣和听力损失患者的耳鸣并改善听力。然而，还需要进一步研究 PRF 对耳鸣患者的迷走神经的作用。
