surfers ear (exostoses)
Surfer’s ear (also known as exostoses) is a condition where the ear canal is narrowed due to slow growing bone in the ear canal. The new bone growth is stimulated by exposure to cold water and cold air and is therefore common in New Zealand. As this is a progressive condition, the time until symptoms develop depends on cumulative time spent swimming, surfing, windsurfing, water skiing and kite surfing.
Symptoms of surfers ear:
Water gets stuck in the ear - Due to the extra bony growth you may find it difficult to drain water out of the ear. You may need to shake your head or hop vigorously to clear the water from your ear canals.
Ear canal infections - These may become increasingly common as the exostoses grow, causing water to stay trapped in the canal. The narrowness of the ear canals may make these infections slow to settle and will require clearance of the canal and antibiotic ear drops.
Reduced hearing - This is a late and uncommon problem; however the hearing may be temporarily affected when the ears are infected due to the swelling and debris in an already narrow space . When the bone completely occludes the ear canal it may cause a conductive hearing loss which will need medical attention.
Management of surfers ear:
Some exostoses do not require any treatment, but once these have been diagnosed it will be wise to protect your ears from further cold water exposure using ear plugs and/or a neoprene headband or hood. This may slow down the growth of the exostoses.
SurfEars® are very popular earplugs as they block out water and cold air but still let you keep a normal conversation and hear what's going on around you without feeling isolated. They come with interchangeable parts so you can customize them to fit perfectly in your ears. The fixation wings keep SurfEars in place even during extreme activities and heavy wipe-outs.
Vosol eardrops may also help to displace moisture, dry and acidifies the ear canal to reduce the risk of ear canal infections, but keeping the water out is better altogether.
If the exostoses are causing persisting problems with ear water blockage or ear infections they are best removed.
When is surgery needed?
Surgical treatment is necessary when the exostoses are affecting your hearing or causing ongoing infections not manageable with ear drops and or ear plugs.
Surgery is a safe and effective treatment for exostoses and involves elevating the ear canal skin off the bony bumps and then drilling them away. The skin is then replaced and held in place with a dressing while it heals. Surgery is usually performed through a small incision tucked in behind the ear, and is generally “day stay” procedures. Discomfort is mild afterwards, with the main frustration for many being the need to keep out of the water for up to 8 weeks afterwards until the canal has completely healed.
Caring for your surfers ear:
Keep water out of your ears using earplugs and/or a hood
Get your ears cleared of wax and dead skin every 6 - 12 months with micro-suctioning (not syringing)
Seek medical review asap if you feel you are developing an infection i.e. pain, swelling, blocked feeling or unusual itching
If you get them wet accidentally, dry your ears using air (hairdryer/fan/air puffer)