Assessment of olfactory function after septoplasty: a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
Aim of the study was to evaluate septoplasty-related changes of lateralised olfactory function during both early and late postoperative periods in comparison to the preoperative situation.


METHODS
Lateralised olfactory function was assessed in 30 patients using the "Sniffin' Sticks" test battery. Measurements were performed preoperatively, and 4 and 9 months postoperatively.


RESULTS
Prior to septal surgery measurements revealed significantly higher odor thresholds for the obstructed nostril compared to contralateral thresholds. No such observations were made for suprathreshold measures. Postoperatively, a significant decline of odor discrimination was found in comparison to the preoperative situation. However, there was no significant change of odor thresholds and odor identification function during the 9-month postoperative follow up. On an individual basis, one of the initially normosmic patients became hyposmic following surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
The present data indicate that odor thresholds, but not suprathreshold olfactory function, are related to nasal obstruction resulting from septal deviation. In contrast, postoperative changes were only seen for odor discrimination. Apart from psychological explanations of this finding, it may be hypothesized that these observations result from changes in intranasal airflow following surgery.
Pfaar
O
O
Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
Hüttenbrink
K B
KB
Hummel
T
T
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome