Olfactory implant: Demand for a future treatment option in patients with olfactory dysfunction

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Olfactory dysfunction (OD) significantly impacts quality of life, with limited therapeutic options available.
• Olfactory training shows benefits, but therapy-refractory cases necessitate novel treatment approaches.
• An olfactory implant (OI) is a potential future therapy, analogous to cochlear implants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the demand for an olfactory implant (OI) among patients suffering from olfactory dysfunction (OD).

Main Methods:

• Sixty-one patients with OD underwent olfactory testing (threshold, discrimination, identification) using Sniffin' Sticks.
• Patients completed questionnaires assessing the importance of smell (IOS), olfactory disorder severity (QOD), and interest in OI.
• Correlation analysis was performed to identify factors associated with interest in OI.

Main Results:

• Approximately one-third (34.4%) of patients expressed interest in OI as a future treatment.
• Interest in OI significantly correlated with lower olfactory test scores (TDI, I), higher QOD complaint scores, and higher IOS scores (P < .05).

Conclusions:

• A notable demand for olfactory implants exists among patients with OD, particularly those with severe symptoms and low olfactory function.
• OI may become a viable option for selected patients if future developments ensure the safety of OI procedures.