[Research status and future strategies for refractory inner ear disease]

Refractory inner ear disease refers to a spectrum of inner ear diseases that fail to achieve good therapeutic effects even after standardized treatment recommended by existing clinical practice guidelines. This disease spectrum is characterized by diverse etiological factors, high phenotypic heterogeneity, unclear subtype characteristics, unknown pathogenic mechanisms, and variable prognosis, making it difficult to define precisely. Refractory inner ear disease accounts for a significant proportion of the total population with inner ear diseases and has not been systematically summarized, refined, and deeply studied to date. This article, for the first time, clearly proposes the concept, definition, and scope of refractory inner ear disease, and elaborates on the current research status, challenges, and coping strategies for refractory inner ear disease. With the development and progress of science and technology, we believe that in the future we will witness more innovative technologies and new drugs applied to the treatment of refractory inner ear disease, bringing hope of cure to patients.