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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
Published on: July 30, 2017
The significance of post-traumatic amnesia as a risk factor in the development of olfactory dysfunction following
I J Swann1, B Bauza-Rodriguez, R Currans
1Emergency Medicine Department, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK. Ian.Swann@northglasgow.scot.nhs.uk
Objective:
To test the following hypothesis in the assessment of head injury
Patients:
only patients with 5 min or more of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) are at risk of acute olfactory dysfunction (OD).
Methods:
This was a retrospective comparative study of olfactory status in head injury patients seen at a head injury clinic at Glasgow Royal Infirmary from 1985 to 2003. Of 828 clinic attenders, 101 had acute OD. These subjects were compared with a randomly selected control group of 102 patients with head injury but normal olfactory function. The main outcome measure was a significant likelihood of patients with PTA lasting for 5 or more minutes having acute OD compared with those with PTA of less than 5 min.
Results:
The likelihood of patients with a PTA of 5 min or more having acute OD compared to those with PTA of less than 5 min is clinically significant with an odds ratio of 9.6 (p<0.01).
Conclusion:
Examination of patients with 5 min or more of PTA should include a simple test of sense of smell. Patients with impaired smell sensation should be aware of their condition prior to discharge from hospital. In addition, the need for a CT brain scan and appropriate follow up should be considered.
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