Exostoses of the external auditory canal in oregon surfers

Novas perspectivas na reconstituição do modo de vida dos sambaquieiros

“…Altas freqüências dessa anomalia foram registradas em pessoas envolvidas em atividades aquáticas intensas (Kroon et al, 2002), como surfistas, mergulhadores e pessoas responsáveis pela obtenção de recursos aquáticos (Standen et al, 1997). Apesar de causas genéticas já terem sido consideradas como determinantes da exostose auditiva, atualmente considera-se que sua etiologia esteja associada a fatores ambientais, especialmente ao contato dos canais auditivos com água fria (Van Gilse, 1983;Kennedy, 1986;Deleyiannis et al, 1996;Standen et al, 1997;Chaplin & Stuart, 1998;Velasco-Vazquez et al, 2000).…”

Prevalence of External Auditory Canal Exostoses in Surfers

“…14 The objective of this study was to establish a relationship between the duration of cold-water exposure and the prevalence, severity, and location of EAE by analyzing 307 questionnaires and 600 otoscopic examination descriptions of surfers at the 1994 U.S. Open of Surfing international competition in Huntington Beach, Calif.…”

“…2 Cold-water exposure is the most consistent characteristic in the history of patients with EAE. 12,14 In fact, Deleyiannis and coworkers 14 postulate that surfers of the warmer southern California waters (16.6°C) may require a longer duration of exposure to produce EAE. This is based on the finding that their patients (Oregon and northern California coldwater surfers) had developed significant ear canal obstruction after having surfed in water temperatures ranging from 9.4°C to 11.1°C for 5 years or longer, whereas the southern California surfers (30 [43%] of the 70 patients) in the study by DiBartolomeo 3 showed the presence of exostoses after having surfed for longer than 10 years.…”

Exostoses of the external auditory canal

“…He also showed a positive correlation between the severity of exostoses and the extensive history of aquatic activities. The most recently published study that supports a coldwater cause for EAE 14 . After looking at the ears of 21 cold-water Oregon surfers, the investigators concluded that the degree of external ear canal obstruction increases as a function of both the number of years having surfed and the number of sessions surfed per year.…”

“…Furthermore, several researchers who supported the genetic hypothesis have also cited chemical or mechanical stimuli that lead to irritation of the auditory canal as possible underlying causes of the development of auditory exostoses. Development of auditory exostosis also appears to depend on the use of ear protection in the form of earplugs and/or hoods, which mitigate wind chill or low atmospheric temperatures or both, therefore, preventing the auditory canal to cool off 14 .…”