THE VALUE OF METHYLPREDNISOLONE IN THE TREATMENT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL SENSORINEURAL HEARING-LOSS FOLLOWING DRILL-INDUCED OSSICULAR CHAIN INJURY - A RANDOMIZED, BLINDED STUDY IN GUINEA-PIGS

In a previously established animal model a standardized drill-induced injury to the body of the incus was applied, and the effects on hearin g were characterized by electrocochleography. In a placebo-controlled, randomized, blinded study methylprednisolone showed no protective eff ect in reducing or improving the auditory threshold shifts, which occu rred within seconds after drilling and remained stable throughout the 5-week observation period. Therefore the otologic surgeon must pay clo se attention to avoiding any contact of a rotating burr with an ossicl e in an intact ossicular chain.