Exostosis of the external auditory meatus or ear canal nodes. A study of etiology and therapeutic results

In this study we evaluated the relation between exposure of the ear canal to cold water and development of exostosis. Furthermore we wanted to evaluate the clinical outcome of surgical removal of the exostosis. The material consisted of a group of 15 winter bathers who had been exposed to cold water over a period varying from three to 45 years. All but one subject who had exposed the ear canal to cold water had developed exostoses of the ear canals. Follow-up examinations of nine patients after surgical removal of the exostosis revealed normal, well calibrated ear canals. Three winter bathers who continued the exposure to cold water developed a new exostosis.