Sodium fluoride in otosclerosis treatment: review

Abstract

AbstractObjectives:To review the current literature on the use of sodium fluoride in the treatment of otosclerosis.Design:A literature review was conducted, searching the Medline and PubMed database from 1966 to 2009, using the terms ‘otosclerosis’ and ‘fluoride’. Article abstracts were reviewed and relevant full articles acquired.Results:There has been only one double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the use of sodium fluoride in otosclerosis patients, and this found a reduced incidence of deterioration in hearing after two years in the treatment group. Several case–control series have described a hearing benefit in the sodium fluoride treated group. Treatment doses vary greatly, and there is no evidence regarding the optimum duration of treatment.Conclusions:There is low quality evidence suggesting that sodium fluoride may be of benefit to preserve hearing and reduce vestibular symptoms in patients with otosclerosis.