title: Anosmia and olfactory outcomes following paediatric traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research into olfactory dysfunction (OD) following paediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is limited. The current study investigated the frequency of OD following paediatric TBI and the relationship between OD and injury characteristics including severity, site of impact and cause of injury. It was hypothesized that children with moderate/severe TBI would demonstrate greater OD than those with mild TBI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven children aged 8-16 with TBI were recruited to a prospective longitudinal study at a metropolitan children's hospital. Olfactory assessment, using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test, was completed at 0-3 months post-injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen per cent of participants demonstrated impaired olfaction, while a small number (5%) were anosmic. A significant relationship between OD and severity of injury was found. No other injury variables demonstrated a significant relationship with olfactory outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OD was relatively common in this paediatric TBI cohort and the hypothesized relationship with severity of injury was supported. It is recommended that information about OD after TBI be routinely provided to children and families. Further research is needed in larger cohorts to support the implementation of routine clinical assessment, understand the relationship between OD and other injury characteristics, determine the functional implications of OD and document recovery trajectories.
authors.affiliation: a Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service , Royal Children's Hospital , Melbourne , Australia.|b Murdoch Childrens Research Institute , Melbourne , Australia.|c Department of Paediatrics , University of Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.affiliation: b Murdoch Childrens Research Institute , Melbourne , Australia.|c Department of Paediatrics , University of Melbourne , Australia.|d Psychology Department , Royal Children's Hospital , Melbourne , Australia.|e School of Psychological Sciences , University of Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catroppa
authors.affiliation: b Murdoch Childrens Research Institute , Melbourne , Australia.|c Department of Paediatrics , University of Melbourne , Australia.|d Psychology Department , Royal Children's Hospital , Melbourne , Australia.|e School of Psychological Sciences , University of Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Traumatic brain injury; anosmia; child; olfactory dysfunction; smell