RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether postaurical subcutaneous injection of triamcinolone acetonide is effective for subjective tinnitus refractory to medical treatment. METHODS: A total of 100 adult patients with subjective tinnitus of cochlear origin were randomly assigned to receive postaurical subcutaneous.Injection of either triamcinolone acetonide (n = 50) or saline solution (n = 50). The treatment protocol comprised 5 injections, one per week for 5 weeks.Improvement was measured by tinnitus severity evaluation index evaluation scale, at baseline and one week after the last injection. The follow-up period was 6 months. RESULTS: No significant difference existed between two groups regarding age, gender, pure tone average, pretreatment tinnitus intensity, tinnitus duration or hearing loss level tinnitus duration (P = 0.316,0.685,0.839,0.682 and 0.881 respectively).No significant post-treatment changes in the tinnitus severity index (experimental group = 52%, control group = 44%) were observed in either group (P = 0.724). The most frequently encountered side effect was pain during injection. CONCLUSION: The postaurical subcutaneous injection of triamcinolone acetonide has no obvious benefit compared with placebo for subjective tinnitus of cochlear origin refractory to medical treatment.
