Efficacy of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve StimulationCombined with Retroauricular Glucocorticoid Injectionin the Treatment of Chronic Tinnitus

Shanwen Chen; Yanxun Han; Yuchen Liu; Jiaxin Li; Qiling Shen; Yichen Li; Chunhui Tian; Yehai Liu

doi:10.71321/5nx25d85

Authors

Shanwen Chen Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University
Yanxun Han Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University
Yuchen Liu Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University
Jiaxin Li Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University
Qiling Shen Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University
Yichen Li Head and Neck Tumor Center, Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China
Chunhui Tian Department of Otolaryngology Head and neck surgery, Suzhou hospital, Anhui Medical University, Suzhou, China
Yehai Liu Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71321/5nx25d85

Keywords:

tinnitus, auricular vagus nerve stimulation, neuromodulation, glucocorticoid injection

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) in combination with retroauricular glucocorticoid injection for the treatment of chronic tinnitus.
Methods: This prospective, single-arm study enrolled a total of 34 patients with chronic tinnitus. All participants received combined therapy consisting of taVNS and subcutaneous triamcinolone acetonide injection at the retroauricular mastoid sieve area. The interventions were administered over a one-month period, with taVNS delivered twice daily. Assessments were performed at three time points: baseline (T0), immediately post-treatment (T1), and one month after treatment completion (T2). The primary outcome was tinnitus severity, measured using the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI). Secondary outcomes included sleep quality (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, GAD-7), and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9).
Results: Significant improvements in tinnitus severity were observed, as reflected by a reduction in TFI scores from baseline to T1 (P = 0.002), with sustained improvement at T2 (P = 0.054). ISI scores also showed significant improvement from T0 to T1 (P = 0.033), with further improvement at T2 (P = 0.011). Although GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores did not show immediate improvement post-treatment, both decreased significantly by T2 compared with baseline (GAD-7: P = 0.001; PHQ-9: P = 0.004), indicating delayed but meaningful reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Conclusion: The combined application of taVNS and retroauricular glucocorticoid injection yielded significant reductions in tinnitus severity. While additional controlled studies are warranted, these results offer preliminary evidence that this non-invasive approach may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for chronic tinnitus.

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