For well over a century, Ear, Nose and Throat surgeons have been aware of a curious condition that we see in our clinics, in which bony swellings appear to grow in the deep part of the external ear canal. We can see them quite easily when inspecting the ear, but no-one has been able to explain exactly what they are and why they occur. The most unusual aspect of these bony swellings lies in the fact that they are only associated with frequent swimming and regular water immersion of the external ear canal and, because they are seen frequently in surfers, they are now known colloquially as “Surfer’s Ear.” They are never seen in people who do not swim regularly.
Much has been written about the possible cause of these bony swellings, called exostoses, but several aspects still remain unclear. The fact that the condition is always bilateral is fairly ...
