Intratympanic Steroid Injection

Intratympanic steroid therapy is a minimally invasive procedure in which corticosteroids are injected into the middle ear, allowing diffusion into the inner ear via the round window membrane. It is commonly used for sudden sensorineural hearing loss, Ménière’s disease, and autoimmune inner ear disorders, either as primary or salvage therapy.

Performed under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting, it delivers high local drug concentrations while minimizing systemic side effects. The procedure is generally safe, with occasional transient dizziness, discomfort, or rare tympanic membrane perforation. It is especially useful in patients who cannot tolerate systemic steroids.