Objectives: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is a rapidly progressive disease that may cause permanent hearing loss. Standard primary treatments include oral corticosteroids (OCs) or intratympanic corticosteroids (ITCs). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of OCs versus ITCs as primary treatments for ISSNHL. Design: This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched Medline, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus, identifying 11 RCTs comprising 833 patients. Results: Both OCs and ITCs significantly improved hearing, with average pure tone audiometry (PTA) gains ranging from 12 to 40 dB. No significant between-intervention difference was observed in post-treatment PTA. Generally, combination therapy yielded the greatest improvements (>40 dB and >60% recovery). OCs caused systemic adverse effects, whereas ITCs produced mostly mild local effects. Conclusions: Both treatment routes effectively improved hearing in patients with ISSNHL, with neither demonstrating clear superiority in overall efficacy. However, combination therapy may be associated with better hearing outcomes.

Background/Objectives: Otorhinolaryngologic (ENT) complaints constitute a substantial proportion of emergency department (ED) visits, ranging from minor to life-threatening problems. The patterns and frequency of these presentations in Saudi Arabia remain poorly described. This study, therefore, aimed to address this gap by examining the most frequent ENT-related presentations to the ED at a tertiary center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to identify common diagnoses, describe patient demographics, and evaluate annual trends in ED visits. Methods: A retrospective study of all consecutive ENT-related emergency department visits between January 2019 and December 2024 was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City, a tertiary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Diagnosis classification used the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). Data on patient demographics, presenting complaints, and hospital admissions were extracted. Descriptive analyses were performed to assess annual trends and common diseases. Results: A total of 22,014 patients were included in the present study, with a slight male (54%) predominance. Across 34,290 ED visits, annual presentations were the highest in 2019 (23.9%) and lowest in 2020 (9.2%). Most patients were discharged from ED (91.9%). The most frequent diagnoses were acute pharyngitis (29.1%), acute tonsillitis (26.2%), and otitis media (22.3%). Conclusions: The study examined the otorhinolaryngology conditions most frequently encountered in an ED setting. The findings highlight a range of ENT disorders that are commonly seen in this setting. Recognizing these prevalent conditions and their patterns can improve ED physicians’ preparedness, triage, and management of patients presenting with ENT emergencies.