Olfactory function following nasal surgery: a 1-year follow-up

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Rhinology
• Olfactory Science

Background:

• Olfactory dysfunction is a common complaint in patients with nasal and sinonasal diseases.
• Many patients with these conditions undergo surgical interventions such as nasal sinus or nasal septum surgery.
• The impact of these surgeries on olfactory function requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of nasal sinus and nasal septum surgery on olfactory function over a 12-month period.
• To assess patient-reported outcomes regarding nasal patency and olfactory function post-surgery.
• To identify patient subgroups that may experience greater olfactory improvements.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 157 patients undergoing either nasal sinus or nasal septum surgery.
• Olfactory function was assessed using the "Sniffin' sticks" 16-item odor identification test.
• Patients provided subjective ratings of nasal patency and olfactory function at 3.5 and 12 months post-operation.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in olfactory function was observed 3.5 months after nasal sinus surgery, but not nasal septum surgery.
• At 12 months, overall olfactory function increase approached statistical significance; 17-19% of patients showed improvement.
• Patients with rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps demonstrated substantial olfactory improvement (30-32%) at both follow-up points.

Conclusions:

• Nasal sinus surgery can lead to a measurable and stable improvement in olfactory function over 12 months.
• Nasal septum surgery does not appear to benefit olfactory function.
• Rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is a key factor associated with significant olfactory recovery after nasal sinus surgery.