Background: External ear canal exostoses are usually bilateral and broad-based, secondary to external ear canal chronic cold exposure, especially water.
Objectives: The objectives were to analyze the influence of the surgeon's experience on the 3-year recurrence and on the complication. We also studied the influence of prolonged exposure to cold water on the incidence of recurrence.
Material and methods: This monocentric retrospective study included 98 ears operated for canalplasty between 2009 and 2016 by nine different operators including one senior, a junior, and seven beginner surgeons. Senior, Junior, and Beginner groups were compared.
Results: 3-year recurrence rate was higher in the Beginner and Junior groups than in the Senior group (69% and 38% vs 18%, P = .001). Although there was a difference between the Beginner (69%) and Junior (38%) groups, it was not significant (P = .407). Among the recurrences, 48% had continued exposure to cold water while only 7% of the ears without recidivism were still exposed (P < .001, OR = 1.25 [4.4; 36.1]). The complication rates were similar between groups, concerning pain (8% vs 30% vs 12%), per procedure perforation (17% vs 10% vs 16%), scarring disorders (25% vs 20% vs 13%), and osteitis (8% vs 0% vs 1%). Hearing was unaffected.
Conclusions: This is the first study evaluating the risk of recurrence of external ear canal exostoses after canalplasty based on the surgeon's experience. This risk of recurrence seems to decrease with the surgeon's experience. There was no difference in complication rates.
Keywords: complication; exostoses; experience; learning curve; recurrence; surgery.