Zinc therapy in otology

At a recent panel on Otology, I asked the audience for a show of hands of those using Zinc for delayed healing and granulations. It was surprising to note that not more than 4 physicians out of 100 had tried Zinc. The need to report our encouraging results was apparent. From 1971 to 1975, 544 tympanoplasties and 122 mastoidectomies were studied for delayed healing due to granulations. Forty-six patients were found to have resistant granulations. Thirty-three of these healed within two weeks of therapy, 10 more required a total of four weeks for healing, and three did not respond well. Sixteen patients had recurrence when the medication was terminated as soon as healing had occurred but responded well when the medication was continued for four weeks after healing was complete. Five patients had nausea, which subsided when the dosage was reduced from the usual 200 mg. of Zinc Sulfate, three times daily with meals to 100 mg., t.i.d. or b.i.d. One patient developed mild urticaria. Zinc therapy is apparently indicated in granulomata of the ear when healing does not occur with conventional therapy, especially in the post-operative patient; however, it will not suffice when there is massive involvement of the mastoid or middle ear, where surgical removal is indicated.