Portable Video Otoscope for Intra-Tympanic Dexamethasone in ISSNHL Treatment: A Promising Method

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to compare the efficacy of portable ear endoscopic tympanic injection versus conventional ear endoscopic tympanic injection in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Methods: Clinical data of 128 patients with ISSNHL who did not respond to conventional treatment were collected from January 2019 to June 2023. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (n = 60) received portable ear endoscopic tympanic injection, while Group 2 (n = 68) received conventional ear endoscopic tympanic injection. The hearing improvement and total effective rate were compared between the 2 groups. Results: Both groups showed significant hearing improvement after treatment (P < .001). The total effective rate of the portable ear endoscopy group was higher than that of the conventional endoscopy group (71.67% vs 50.00%, P = .012). However, there was no significant difference in treatment effect between the 2 groups for patients with different degrees of hearing impairment. Conclusion: Both methods demonstrated efficacy in treating ISSNHL with dexamethasone tympanic injection. Portable ear endoscopy offers advantages such as convenience, high patient compliance, and potentially higher efficacy. It is beneficial for teaching and suitable for beginners, and its clinical application can be promoted.