Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42383431›Full record

ArticleMedeniyet medical journal2026

Optimal Timing of Intratympanic Corticosteroid Therapy for Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Mini-Review.

Sidian Yao, Yutong Cui, Xinru Liu, Xian Jiang, Junhu Tai

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Medeniyet medical journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Sidian YaoYanbian University Yanbian Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Jilin, China.ORCID 0009-0006-6029-1171
Yutong CuiYanbian University Yanbian Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Jilin, China.ORCID 0009-0002-7941-5999
Xinru LiuYanbian University Yanbian Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Jilin, China.ORCID 0009-0005-3011-3887
Xian JiangYanbian University Yanbian Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Jilin, China.ORCID 0000-0002-2761-4331
Junhu TaiXiamen Medical College Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Fujian, China.ORCID 0000-0003-1491-9889

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is an otologic emergency. While systemic corticosteroids are first-line therapy, intratympanic corticosteroid (ITC) injection has emerged as an important modality. The optimal timing of ITC-as primary therapy, combined initial treatment, or salvage therapy-remains controversial. To critically synthesize current evidence regarding ITC efficacy at different treatment timings and provide evidence-based clinical recommendations. A structured search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was conducted from database inception to December 2025 using terms sudden sensorineural hearing loss, ISSNHL, sudden deafness, intratympanic injection, ITC, intratympanic dexamethasone, and intratympanic methylprednisolone. The search identified 321 records, and additional articles were found in the reference lists of key reviews, meta-analyses, and guidelines. Studies were selected using predefined criteria, prioritizing randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical practice guidelines, and relevant observational studies in adults with ISSNHL. Eligible studies evaluated ITC as primary monotherapy, combined initial therapy, or salvage therapy, and reported quantitative audiometric outcomes. Exclusion criteria included non-idiopathic sudden hearing loss, pediatric populations, non-corticosteroid intratympanic therapies, animal or laboratory-only studies, case reports, conference abstracts without full text, duplicate publications, and studies without clinically interpretable hearing outcomes. After screening, 25 studies were included. Salvage ITC provides significant benefit (OR: 6.04; 95% CI: 3.26-11.2; NNT≈3) with Grade A evidence. Combined initial therapy is superior to systemic steroids alone (OR: 2.50; 95% CI: 1.95-3.21), particularly for severe hearing loss. ITC monotherapy is non-inferior to systemic steroids (PTA difference: 2.0 dB). A stratified approach based on treatment timing is recommended. Salvage ITC should be offered to all patients with incomplete recovery. Combined therapy should be considered for patients with severe hearing loss. ITC monotherapy is appropriate when systemic steroids are contraindicated.

Indexed as

corticosteroidsdexamethasoneIdiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing lossintratympanic injectionmethylprednisolonetreatment timing

Identifiers

PMID42383431
PMCPMC13320321

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.