A surfer may develop exostoses of the external auditory canal.
Risk factors:
(1) increasing number of years surfing (usually > 5 years)
(2) increasing number of sessions per year
(3) cold water exposure
A professional surfer would be expected to have multiple risk factors.
The exostoses may partially obstruct the external auditory canal. Complete obstruction is unusually.
The condition is relatively benign and most surfers do not require surgical therapy.
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Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Otolaryngology
