[Surgery of the external ear canal]

Diseases of the external ear canal are a frequent reason for consulting the otolaryngologist. Conservative treatment is sufficient in most cases. Chronic problems of the external ear canal, however, sometimes require surgical treatment. Enlargement of the external ear canal as well as the entrance of the external ear canal are often simultaneously performed together with tympanoplasties, in order to obtain good access to the middle ear and to facilitate postoperative care. In this review, we focus on surgical techniques for different pathologies such as exostosis, stenosis, fibrosis, and tumors of the external ear canal.