Douglas Hetzler, M.D., is an otolaryngologist at Palo Alto Medical Foundation and practices in Soquel, California. He sees patients of all ages with disorders of the ear, nose and throat, face and neck. He has special expertise in treating the ear condition knows as "surfer's ear." He is also a consulting laryngologist for Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Dr. Hetzler attended University of Iowa for his medical education and completed his residency at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in 1986. In his free time, he likes to bicycle and participate in triathlons.
Sutter Health Research Enterprise
2950 Research Park Drive
Soquel, CA, 95073
(831) 458-6272
hetzled@sutterhealth.org
Primary Research Interests
Publications
Birth and evolution of chiselling and drilling techniques for removing ear canal exostoses.
Two techniques for removal of exostoses were developed in the latter part of the 19th century and have largely remained unchanged. This demonstrates the importance of that era in the history of ear surgery.
In reference to: Histologic assessment of thermal injury to tonsillectomy specimens: a comparison of electrocautery, coblation, harmonic scalpel, and tonsillotome.
Comment on: Histologic assessment of thermal injury to tonsillectomy specimens: a comparison of electrocautery, coblation, harmonic scalpel, and tonsillotome. [Laryngoscope. 2009]
External auditory exostoses: evaluation and treatment.
Comment on: External auditory exostoses: evaluation and treatment. [Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008]
In reference to: Endoscopic transcanal removal of symptomatic external auditory canal exostoses.
Comment on: Endoscopic transcanal removal of symptomatic external auditory canal exostoses.
Osteotome technique for removal of symptomatic ear canal exostoses.
The described technique of using osteotomes transcanal for removal of symptomatic obstructive ear canal exostoses promoted rapid healing and was effective and safe.
Re: "Operating room sound level hazards for patients and physicians."
Comment on: Operating room sound level hazards for patients and physicians. [Otol Neurotol. 2010]
Regarding: "Do high-speed drills generate high-frequency noise in mastoid surgery?"
Comment on: Do high-speed drills generate high-frequency noise in mastoid surgery? [Otol Neurotol. 2012]
Regarding "Optimizing positioning for in-office otology procedures."
Commentary on article, "Optimizing positioning for in-office otology procedures."
Comment on: "Outcomes of Drill Canalplasty in Exostoses and Osteoma: Analysis of 256 Cases and Literature Review."
Use of 1 mm osteotomes transcanal preserves the ear canal skin and its blood supply, is well suited to cleaving along natural planes, and noise is negligible.
Research Studies
Membrane Dimensions in Patients with Symptomatic Ear Canal Exostoses
Determine if dimensions of the tympanic membrane are predictable. Such membranes will be measured during ear canal surgery.
Investigator: Douglas Hetzler M.D.
Osteotome Technique for Removal of Ear Canal Exostoses
This study looks at a minimally invasive technique to remove bone growth in the ear canal which causes a painful condition called "surfer's ear."
Investigator: Douglas Hetzler M.D.