508 The Early Use of Intratympanic Steroid Injections in the Treatment of Labyrinthitis Obliterans – A Case Report

Labyrinthitis Obliterans is an inner ear condition characterised by pathological sclerosis and ossification of the membranous labyrinth as a response to inflammatory insult. It is associated with profound sensorineural hearing loss and occasionally dizziness and/or vertigo.In this case report, we describe the use of intratympanic steroid injections in a patient presenting with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) with a radiological diagnosis of Labyrinthitis Obliterans. Whilst many studies suggest the role of oral steroids in SSNHL, there is no current evidence regarding the role of intratympanic steroid injections specifically for the treatment of this condition. Case Presentation A 60-year-old gentleman was referred to ENT with a 3-day history of sudden right sided hearing loss. There was no improvement in his Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) results after 7 days of oral Prednisolone. Subsequently, an MRI Internal Acoustic Meatus showed evidence of right sided Labyrinthitis Obliterans. The patient was initiated on a course of intratympanic Methylprednisolone injections 10 days after initial onset of symptoms. A significant improvement in his baseline hearing of over 60dB was demonstrated after 4 courses of injections over a 3-month period. Discussion Our findings reveal that despite a diagnosis of Labyrinthitis Obliterans, the early use of intratympanic steroid injections can significantly improve hearing threshold and quality of life of the patient. The biggest hurdle in the management of Labyrinthitis Obliterans is establishing the diagnosis early and ensuring timely treatment, therefore we would advocate the early use of MRI and early intervention with intratympanic steroid injections.