title: Surgery for outer ear canal exostoses and osteomata:  focusing on patient benefit and health-related quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the impact of surgery for ear canal exostoses and osteomata on patients' health-related quality of life because the literature suggests that surgery cannot achieve excellent symptom control in all cases and has a considerable complication rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective data collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Germany's largest university clinic for otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients having received surgery for ear canal exostoses and osteomata.
  
  
  METHODS
  Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), a retrospective questionnaire well validated for measuring the effect of otorhinolaryngologic interventions on the health-related quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  GBI total scores and subscores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty of the 39 patients returned a valid questionnaire (return rate, 76.9%). The mean total GBI score was 14.6 (p < 0.001), suggesting a benefit from the operation. In contrast to the general subscale score (mean, 21.0; p < 0.001), the mean physical health score and the mean social support score were not significantly increased. Of all patients, 83.3% had a total GBI score higher than 0, indicating a benefit from the operation. In 90% of the cases, patients were satisfied with the result of the operation, and 86.7% would again decide in favor of the operation. Most patients preoperatively experienced hearing loss, wax retention and recurrent otitis externa. Postoperatively, 70% of the patients were free of any complaints. The patients not satisfied were the only patients with negative GBI scores in the whole patient collective, and all had had complications from surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgery for ear canal exostoses and osteomata can significantly improve patients' health-related quality of life and leads to a high rate of patient satisfaction. Postoperative complications are the most important factor for a negative impact on the patient's health-related quality of life. Therefore, in the authors' opinion, only patients with symptoms should have surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: John Martin
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hempel
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Forell
authors.forename: Eike
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Braun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002571:Cerumen; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005096:Exostoses / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010016:Osteoma / Q000601:surgery*; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000209:etiology; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult