title: Posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction.
abstract: Impairment of smell may occur following injury to any portion of the olfactory tract, from nasal cavity to brain. A thorough understanding of the anatomy and pathophysiology combined with comprehensively obtained history, physical exam, olfactory testing, and neuroimaging may help to identify the mechanism of dysfunction and suggest possible treatments. Although most olfactory deficits are neuronal mediated and therefore currently unable to be corrected, promising technology may provide novel treatment options for those most affected. Until that day, patient counseling with compensatory strategies and reassurance is essential for the maintenance of safety and QoL in this unique and challenging patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298-0146, USA. Electronic address: daniel.coelho@vcuhealth.org.
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298-0146, USA. Electronic address: richard.costanzo@vcuhealth.org.
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Costanzo
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000070624:Brain Contusion / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009666:Nose / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D061219:Olfactory Nerve Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011788:Quality of Life; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
keywords: Anosmia; Dysfunction; Hyposmia; Implant; Olfactory; Smell; Trauma