Intratympanic Steroid Injection

Intratympanic steroid injection is an outpatient procedure used to treat conditions that affect the inner ear including Meniere’s Disease and sudden onset sensorineural hearing loss.

Overview

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What is an intratympanic steroid injection?

Behind the eardrum in the middle ear space is a structure called the round window. This is sealed with a membrane behind which are the fluids of the inner ear, vital for hearing and balance function.

An intratympanic steroid injection is an outpatient procedure performed by an ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgeon where a drug is injected through the eardrum to fill the middle ear allowing the medication to diffuse across the round window membrane and into the cochlear.

Why is an intratympanic steroid injection given?

Intratympanic steroid injection enables ear specialists to treat and improve impaired hearing caused by conditions that affect the inner ear such as Meniere’s Disease, sudden onset sensorineural hearing loss, autoimmune inner ear disease and other scenarios.

Although oral steroids can be used to treat these conditions, an injection directly into the middle ear aims to achieve a higher concentration of the drug in the area where it’s needed. This also avoids the side effects associated with tablet steroids due to drug absorption throughout the body.

As the effect of steroids is cumulative, it’s common for patients to need 3 or 4 injections, spaced apart by days or weeks, but this varies according to the condition that’s being treated.

Preparing for an intratympanic steroid injection

Before the procedure, you’ll have an initial consultation with your ENT specialist who will take a detailed history of your symptoms, examine the inside of your ear and arrange a same-visit hearing test. This will help them determine which ear is causing the problem and how severely your hearing has been affected.

What does an intratympanic steroid injection involve?

Intratympanic steroid injections are relatively straightforward to administer in experienced hands. Your surgeon will apply a topical local anaesthetic to the ear drum (tympanic membrane). Once the area is numb, the steroid is injected into the middle ear using a fine needle.

You’ll be lying face up during the procedure and then asked to remain in a still position for 20 to 30 minutes to stop the steroid from leaking out of the middle ear too quickly, allowing for maximum effectiveness.

Recovering from an intratympanic steroid injection

Some patients can feel a little dizzy or disorientated after the procedure but these side effects will settle quickly. Certain steroid preparations can cause strong pain, but this will typically settle by the next morning and your consultant will discuss the choice of steroid with you. The procedure can also cause a feeling of fullness in the ear but rarely cause any discomfort. Patients are able to leave the clinic by foot without problem, although driving straight after the procedure is recommended against.

Intratympanic steroid injection risks

Intratympanic steroid injection is a common and well-practised treatment. It’s generally very safe and there are rarely complications.

Documented associated risks of such injections would include:

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Treatment Programme
Intratympanic Steroid Injection

Introduction

Treatment

Outpatient procedure

Preparation

Hearing test pre-procedure

Risks

Hearing loss, infection, vertigo

Aftercare

Painkillers if needed

Recovery

24 hours

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Health Insurance

This service or treatment is generally covered by most health insurance policies. You are responsible for checking your insurance policy cover, and you may need a referral letter. Check which insurance companies are covered.

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Self-Pay Available

This treatment is available for self-paying users. If you would like to see more information on pricing visit our pricing and payments page.

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Consultation Required

For this treatment you will need to have a 1-to-1 consultation at OneWelbeck first. To book in with our team of expert clinicians or to find out more about the process contact the relevant centre team.

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Next Day Availability

We usually have next day availability for this service, please call us to check availability.

Intratympanic Steroid Injection Specialists

All our private ENT specialists at OneWelbeck in London are leaders in their sub-specialties, providing the highest quality treatment at custom-built facilities to ensure you receive the best available care. Click on the profiles below to see which of our consultants can help with Intratympanic Steroid Injections.

Earliest availability 03 Jan
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Robert Nash

Consultant Otologist & Auditory Implant Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Otology, Hearing, Tinnitus, Cochlear Implants, Ear wax build-up, Hearing Loss, Deafness, Ear Infections, Otitis Media, Dizziness, Vertigo, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, Perforated Eardrum, Myringotomy, Cholesteatoma, Tonsillectomy, Meniere’s Disease, Labyrinthitis, Microsuction, Grommet Insertion, Tympanoplasty, Ossiculoplasty, Stapedectomy, Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Insertion, Tympanomastoidectomy, Mastoid Cavity Obliteration.

Earliest availability 06 Jan
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Jeremy Lavy

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Cochlear Implants, Hearing, Otology, Hearing Loss, Paediatric ENT, Hearing Restoration Surgery, Ossiculoplasty, Myringotomy, Stapes surgery.

Earliest availability 07 Jan
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Joseph Manjaly

Consultant ENT Surgeon, Otologist & Hearing Implant Specialist

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Microsuction, Otology, Tinnitus, Cochlear Implants, Hearing Loss, Blocked Ears, Ear Infections, Deafness, Ear wax build-up, Glue Ear, Otitis Media, Otorrhoea, Otalgia, Dizziness, Vertigo, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, Perforated Eardrum, Eardrum Retraction, Otosclerosis, Tympanic Membrane Retraction, Cholesteatoma, Meniere’s Disease, Vestibular Neuronitis, Labyrinthitis, Tympanoplasty, Ossiculoplasty, Stapedectomy, Bone Anchored Hearing Aid Insertion, Myringotomy, Grommet Insertion, Bone Conduction Implants, Middle Ear Implants, Tympanomastoidectomy, Blind Sac Closure, Canalplasty, Meatoplasty, Mastoid Cavity Obliteration.

Earliest availability 09 Jan
Bookings are avaliable

Mr Nish Mehta

Paediatric and Adult ENT Consultant

Specialist expertise: Balance, Tinnitus, Ears, Otology, Ear, Nose and Throat.

Earliest availability 14 Jan
Bookings are avaliable

Professor Shakeel Saeed

Consultant Neurotologist & Skull Base Surgeon

Specialist expertise: Hearing, Ear, Nose and Throat, Tinnitus, Cochlear Implants, Vestibular Schwannoma, Cholesteatoma, Otosclerosis, Meniere’s Disease, Vertigo, Voice Disorders, Facial Palsy, Glomus Tumour, Facial Nerve Tumours, Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence, Neurotology, Otology.

Mr Rupert Obholzer

Consultant Neurotologist & Skull base surgeon

Specialist expertise: Ear, Nose and Throat, Hearing, Cochlear Implants, Vestibular Schwannoma, Facial Palsy, Otology, Hearing Restoration Surgery, Acoustic Neuroma Surgery, Skull Base Disease, Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leak Repair, Facial Nerve Surgery, Parotid Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery.

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