Abstract
Objective: Topical preparations are widely used in the treatment of infections of the external auditory canal and middle ear. However, they can pass through the round window and effect the inner ear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ototoxicity of topical oxiconazole and boric acid in alcohol solutions.
Method: Five groups of 10 male Wistar albino rats. The right tympanic membranes of all of the rats were perforated and baseline and posttreatment distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPAOE) measurements were performed. Oxiconazole, boric acid in alcohol, salin, and gentamicin solutions were applied to the right external ears.
Results: The solutions were applied through the external ear canal to the middle ear twice a day for 15 days. The rats in group I and group II received oxiconazole and boric acid in alcohol solutions, respectively. Group III received gentamicin (ototoxic control), group IV received saline solution, and group V was followed without any medication. The baseline DPOAE results of the right ears of all animals tested were normal. Animals in groups I, II, IV, and V showed no statistically significant change in the DPOAE values. The rats in the gentamicin group showed a significant decrease.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that topically used oxiconazole and boric acid in alcohol solutions to the middle ear have no effect on the inner ear of rats. In our opinion, ear drops should be chosen more carefully in an external ear infection with a tympanic membrane perforation to avoid ototoxicity.
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