title: [Surgical treatment of auditory canal exostoses].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although complications of surgical removal of external auditory canal exostoses are rare, reported surgical complications include tympanic membrane perforation, postoperative hearing loss, canal stenosis, and facial nerve injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report on our experience in exostosis surgery, consisting of 59 procedures in 48 patients. Preoperative and postoperative complaints and findings, intraoperative complications, and audiologic results are described and discussed. There has been a minimum of one year of follow-up in every case.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative canal stenosis was seen in 2 cases of preoperative severe persistent external otitis. Temporary threshold shift was recorded in 6 patients. Persistent sensorineural hearing loss occurred in 4 patients. Six of the 10 patients with temporary or persistent hearing loss had already shown preoperative sensorineural hearing loss. Intraoperatively tympanic membrane perforation occurred in 3 cases, accidental opening of the mastoid in 1 case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exostosis surgery should be reserved for uninfected ear canals. Meatal skin preservation without circular meatal flap incision is recommended to avoid postoperative canal stenosis. Especially in cases of preexisting sensorineural hearing loss, attention should be focused on the intraoperative noise reduction by tympanic membrane protection and pauses of noise exposition.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Frese
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rudert
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maune
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005096:Exostoses / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000293:injuries; D008875:Middle Aged; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018058:Tympanic Membrane Perforation / Q000209:etiology
vernacular_title: Die operative Behandlung von Gehörgangsexostosen.