Prevalencia de la exóstosis del conducto auditivo externo entre practicantes de surf y bodyboard en la costa central de Chile

External auditory canal exostosis (EACE), also known as surfer's ear, is a bone tissue disturbance in the outer ear, mainly caused by overexposure to cold temperatures. Considering that people who practice water sports such as surfing and bodyboarding on the Pacific coast are exposed to waters at temperatures between 12-16 °C, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of EACE in surfers and bodyboarders from Reñaca and Concón, two coastal cities in the southern Pacific Ocean, during the year 2018. An EAC evaluation was carried out through video otoscopy on 67 people (134 ear canals) who practiced surfing and bodyboarding on the beaches of Reñaca and Concón, and a questionnaire was used to collect information about their practice habits. As a result, an EACE prevalence of 77.6% was found, with 61.2% being bilateral and 16.4% unilateral. Additionally, it was observed that 62.3% of the participants do not use ear protection. Based on these findings, it is possible to conclude that there is a high prevalence of EACE in surfers and bodyboarders from the central coast of Chile, which should alert both the population of people who practice these water sports and the professionals who work with auditory health of the necessity to promote a healthy lifestyle in this population.