Surfer's Ear Surgery

You may know Santa Cruz as an international surfing mecca, but doctors at PAMF have also made it a world center for treating "surfer's ear," a serious hearing condition that occurs when the ears get repeated exposure to wind and cold water.

Douglas Hetzler, M.D., an ear, nose and throat specialist at the PAMF Santa Cruz Medical Clinic, is one of a handful of California doctors performing a unique form of surfer’s ear surgery that uses very small chisels to remove bone growths from your ear canal. Because this surgery is less invasive than traditional techniques, you heal more quickly.

Dr. Hetzler has improved the hearing of thousands of people since he began performing this specialized surgery nearly 20 years ago.

What Is Surfer's Ear?

Surfer’s ear occurs when repeated exposure to wind and cold water causes the ear bone to grow abnormally and constrict the ear canal. Water and earwax then get trapped inside, resulting in painful infections and hearing loss.

Even though it’s called “surfer’s ear,” other outdoor water enthusiasts, like divers, kayakers, and body boarders can also develop the condition. Surfer’s ear affects athletes of all ages, but it’s most common in people in their late-30s.

A Unique Surgery

Many surgeons treat surfer’s ear by cutting behind the ear and using a drill to remove the bone growths inside the canal. Instead of wielding a drill, Dr. Hetzler enters the ear canal and cleaves the bone growths with tiny one-millimeter chisels.

"This unique surgery can be difficult because it's like looking through a keyhole and working in a space no bigger than seven millimeters—the size of the end of your little finger," says Dr. Hetzler. But it doesn’t require an external incision, it exposes patients to less noise than a drill and it promotes rapid healing and a faster return to water sports.

Over the last two decades, Dr. Hetzler has presented his treatment technique to doctors all over the world. He’s also operated on thousands of people from 26 states in the U.S. and 19 foreign countries.

Surfer's Ear Surgery: Before and After

See photos of ear canals prior to and after removal of bone growths. (Viewer discretion advised.)

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Getting Back in the Water

One of those patients is Steve Spiliotopoulos, a well-known water sports enthusiast and manager of O'Neill Surf Shop in Santa Cruz. He was experiencing earaches and hearing problems when he discovered that surfer’s ear had closed off 95 percent of his ears.

"I’d spent my life in the water since I was five—swimming, surfing, boogie boarding and doing underwater photography,” Spiliotopoulos says. “And then finally, the cold water took its toll.”

Eventually Spiliotopoulos “bit the bullet” and underwent surgery with Dr. Hetzler. He likens the procedure to minimally invasive oral surgery.

"I was in and out the same day and was back to business as usual in four to five days,” he says. “I'm very happy with the procedure and Dr. Hetzler's follow up.”

“I can’t be away from the ocean for too long,” Spiliotopoulos adds, and fortunately his surgery has allowed him to return to all his favorite activities, including taking breathtaking underwater pictures. He just makes sure he protects his ears whenever he goes in the ocean.

“If you want to prevent surfer’s ear, wear earplugs and/or a neoprene hood when surfing or swimming in cold water,” Dr. Hetzler says.