Effects of Burow's solution as an ear drop on intractable chronic suppurative diseases of the external ear canal and middle ear

Abstract

Objective: Burow's solution was developed by Karl August von Burow in the 19th century as an ear drop. Thorp et al. reported its excellent effect on chronic suppurative otitis media in 1998. We applied Burow's solution to intractable chronic purulent diseases of the external and middle ear in the 12 months from February 2001. Subjects: Subjects were 25 ears of 21 patients - 35-79 years old, 10 men's ears and 15 women's ears - whose disease has continued for an average of 3.78 years. Diseases and patients are as follows: 1) 11 ears with postoperative mastoid cavity problems, 2) 7 ears with chronic external otitis and chronic eczema of the external ear canal, 3) 7 ears with fungal otitis externa, 4) 6 ears with chronic otitis media with perforation, and 5) 2 ears of chronic granulated myringitis. Method: The solution was dropped into the ear canal once a day for 10 min or cotton balls soaked with the solution were applied to the canal wall. Criteria of efficacy were divided into cured, effecfive and unchanged. Results: 8/11 ears with a cavity problem were cured (72.7%) and 3 ears showed treatment to be effective. All 7 ears with chronic external otitis and chronic eczema were cured. All 7 ears with fungal otitis extema were cured. 4/6 ears (66.6%) with chronic perforated otitis media were cured and 1 ear each showed treatment to be effective and 1 unchanged. Two chronic granurated myringitis were cured. Twenty of 25 ears (80%) were cured. Pre- and posttreatment audiometries showed almost the same. The cure appeared within 3 days to 3 weeks. The solution was not effective against mucoid secretion, cholesteatoma, or residual mastoid cells. The day alter treatment, serous secretion appears temporarily. Conclusion: Burows's solution is seemed to be very effective and nonototoxic as an otic drop for treating suppurative ear diseases.