Action of Intra-auricular Topical Lidocaine on Tinnitus

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: The main objective of this clinical trial placebo controled is to evaluate the action of intraauricular topical lidocaine on tinnitus.

The question to be answered is whether lidocaine is superior to placebo (distilled water) in reducing tinnitus intensity when applied topically within the external auditory canal.

Tinnitus intensity will be measured using the visual analog scale and acuphenometry before and after lidocaine or placebo application.

Detailed Description: Adult patients who have had continuous, uni or bilateral tinnitus, for at least 6 months are being evaluated. Exclusion criteria are: otological infection, tympanic membrane perforation, anatomical alteration of the external ear, pulsatile tinnitus, objective tinnitus, known allergy to lidocaine or other topical anesthetic and pregnancy All patients receive both lidocaine and placebo at an interval of 15 days and the order of application of the substances is randomized. Only one ear receives the medications and side is defined by the higher intensity of tinnitus, or through draw in the case of symmetrical tinnitus.

The patient is instructed to lie in lateral decubitus, with the ear under study facing upwards and the substances are applied by filling the external auditory canal with lidocaine or distilled water for 5 min. Tinnitus intensity is measured (acuphenometry and VAS) before and after substance application and the variation is compared between lidocaine and placebo.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Adult patients who have had continuous, uni or bilateral tinnitus, for at least 6 months

Exclusion Criteria

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Lidocaine 10%	Lidocaine 10 MG/ML	The patient is instructed to lie down in lateral decubitus, with the ear in study facing upwards and 10% lidocaine is applied to the external auditory canal, using an eyedropper, until its complete filling (approximate average of 2ml).
Placebo	Distilled water	The patient is instructed to lie down in lateral decubitus, with the ear in study facing upwards and distilled water is applied to the external auditory canal, using an eyedropper, until its complete filling (approximate average of 2ml).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Score	Immediately before and 5 minutes after receiving intervention on days 1 and 15	scale ranging from 0 to 10 points used to measure the intensity of tinnitus, where zero corresponds to the absence of tinnitus perception and 10 corresponds to the largest volume that the patient imagines that tinnitus may have.
Change in Tinnitus Loudness	Immediately before and 5 minutes after receiving intervention on days 1 and 15	Acuphenometry is a psychoacoustic test performed in an audiometry booth to measure tinnitus intensity. By comparing the intensity of tinnitus with the intensity sounds offered by the researcher, the tinnitus loudness is defined. Tinnitus loudness is measured in decibels and the higher the value found, the louder the tinnitus intensity.
Change in Minimum Masking Level (MML)	Immediately before and 5 minutes after receiving intervention on days 1 and 15	Acuphenometry is a psychoacoustic test performed in an audiometry booth to measure minimum masking level. By comparing the intensity of tinnitus with the intensity sounds offered by the researcher, the minimum stimulus that masks tinnitus is determined. The minimum masking level is the intensity that an external sound must have to cover up tinnitus until it is no longer perceived by the patient. MML is measured in decibels. The lower the MML value, the more easily tinnitus can be masked, suggesting a lower degree of discomfort for the patient.