Characterizing Olfactory Dysfunction in Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip Nasal Deformities

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology
• Nasal Deformity Research
• Olfactory Dysfunction Studies

Background:

• Unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity (uCLND) is frequently linked to olfactory dysfunction.
• The precise causes of this smell impairment in uCLND patients remain unclear.
• Understanding the etiology is crucial for effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the root causes of olfactory dysfunction in patients with unilateral cleft lip nasal deformity (uCLND).
• To utilize clinical, computational, and histological methods for a comprehensive assessment.
• To correlate nasal anatomy and airflow with olfactory performance.

Main Methods:

• Included adult patients (>16 years) with uCLND undergoing septorhinoplasty.
• Excluded patients with prior nasal surgery, pregnancy, or sinusitis.
• Assessed outcomes via patient-reported symptoms, rhinomanometry, smell tests, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and olfactory epithelium histology.

Main Results:

• Five uCLND subjects (18-23 years) with varying cleft sides were studied.
• All reported significant nasal obstruction; smell tests indicated hyposmia.
• Higher nasal resistance on the cleft side (rhinomanometry & CFD) correlated with olfactory deficits; histology showed intact olfactory epithelium.

Conclusions:

• Olfactory dysfunction in uCLND is predominantly conductive, stemming from airflow issues.
• Nasal anatomy variations critically influence smell function in uCLND patients.
• The findings suggest a mechanical basis for smell impairment in uCLND.