gms | German Medical Science

Background: Removal of exostoses in the auditory canal is the most common operative surgery in the outer ear canal region. Eardrum perforation, injuries of the ossicular chain, wound healing disorders, tinnitus, sensoneural hearing loss, earache and paresis of the facial nerve have been described as complications of this surgery. Diverse statements regarding occurrence of relapses have been made in the literature [1].

Case report: We are reporting about a 20 year old patient with the classical symptoms of acute otitis externa. Seven years earlier extended circular exostoses in the auditory canal had been removed on the affected side what had been intraoperatively photodocumented. After a local therapy of otitis externa distinctive recurrent exostoses appeared, mainly from the posterior wall of the auditory canal; thus, almost completely displacing the lumen again. There is no cold water anamnesis. Again, a well documented complete removal of the exostoses was carried out. Histologically, there was a typical picture of classical exostoses. Consequently, it can be assumed that a recurrence of exostoses in the auditory canal occurred after a relatively short time.

Discussion: Up to now in the literature it was primarily considered that after a removal of exotoses, mainly in patients with a positive cold water anamnesis, a tentative ‘’relapse’’ can develop in the regions of the bony ear canal which were not affected by the primary operation. The described case showed, however, that in particular cases a real recurrences can occur in the medium term even after a circular surgery. In particular, patients with extended exostoses should be informed about that within the scope of patient education.