Combined drug therapy with ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block for primary tinnitus

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of combined medication therapy and ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block treatment for primary tinnitus. This retrospective cohort study reviewed the clinical data of 113 patients with primary tinnitus, with 46 patients receiving stellate ganglion block treatment as the control group and 67 patients receiving the combined medication therapy combined with ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block treatment as the observation group. Baseline characteristics, tinnitus severity scores, quality of life, psychological health, adverse events, and patient satisfaction were assessed and compared between the 2 treatment groups. Baseline demographics and tinnitus characteristics were similar between groups (P > .05). Posttreatment, the observation group showed significantly greater improvements in tinnitus severity (all metrics, P < .05), quality of life (physical, emotional, role, cognitive, social domains, P < .005), and psychological health (anxiety, depression, stress, sleep, social support, P < .05). Adverse events (headache, dizziness, nausea) were comparable (P > .05). Patient satisfaction favored the observation group (P = .034), though fewer reported "very satisfied". The combined intervention demonstrates superior efficacy across clinical and psychosocial outcomes with comparable safety. Medication therapy combined with ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block treatment significantly reduces tinnitus severity. However, due to the retrospective observational nature of this study, the findings demonstrate an association rather than a causal relationship.