Nasal septal perforation has a negative impact on olfactory and trigeminal function

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Rhinology
• Olfactory Neuroscience

Background:

• Nasal septal perforation (NSP) commonly causes nasal obstruction, crusting, and epistaxis.
• Limited research exists on NSP's impact on olfactory function.
• This study investigates olfactory dysfunction in NSP patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate olfactory function in patients with symptomatic NSP.
• To identify factors associated with olfactory dysfunction in NSP patients.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study comparing 123 NSP patients with 74 controls.
• Olfactory function assessed via visual analogue scale (VAS) and Barcelona Smell Test 24 (BAST-24).
• NSP size and position evaluated using nasal endoscopy and CT scans; BMI and comorbidities recorded.

Main Results:

• Olfactory dysfunction (detection, memory, identification) was significantly higher in NSP patients compared to controls.
• Larger NSP area and higher BMI were independently associated with impaired olfactory identification.
• Moderate correlations found between olfactory identification, VAS, SNOT-22, NOSE-Perf, and trigeminal scores.

Conclusions:

• Nasal septal perforation significantly impacts both olfactory and trigeminal functions.
• Reduced olfactory identification is linked to larger NSP size and elevated BMI.
• Findings highlight the need to consider olfactory assessment in NSP management.