Recovery of olfactory function following closed head injury or infections of the upper respiratory tract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the outcome of olfactory function in patients with olfactory loss following infections of the upper respiratory tract (post-URTI) or head trauma. DESIGN: Retrospective patient-based study. SETTING: Smell and Taste Outpatient Clinic at a university hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 361 patients (228 women, 133 men) were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Olfactory function was assessed using the "Sniffin' Sticks" test battery, which result in a threshold, discrimination, and identification score. The mean interval between first and last visit was 14 months. RESULTS: In comparing the overall threshold, discrimination, and identification scores between the last and first visit, olfactory function improved in 26% of the patients whereas it decreased in 6%. The cause of olfactory impairment had a significant effect on the recovery rate of olfactory function. Within the post-URTI group (n = 262), 32% of the patients improved, but in the posttraumatic group (n = 99) only 10% improved. In patients with post-URTI olfactory loss, a negative correlation was found between age and recovery of olfactory function. In general, the factor "sex" had no significant effect on recovery of smell function. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, the series of patients presented herein is the largest in the literature to date in which standardized testing methods were used to assess the progression of impaired olfaction. It showed that the rate of improvement of olfactory function was significantly higher in patients with post-URTI dysosmia compared with patients with posttraumatic dysosmia. During an observation period of approximately 1 year, more than 30% of patients with post-URTI olfactory loss experienced improvement, whereas only 10% of patients with posttraumatic olfactory loss experienced improvement. Furthermore, age plays a significant role in the recovery of olfactory function.     

The olfactory function in the patients with the curved nasal septum before and after surgical treatment

The authors compared the frequency of subjective complains of hyposmia and results of objective study (olfactometry) in the patients with the curved nasal septum. In addition, the influence of septoplastic surgery on the olfactory function in such patients was estimated. The study included 40 patients aged from 18 to 59 years who examined by olfactometry with the use of the Sniffing sticks test. Subjective evaluation of the olfactory function was performed based on the 10-point visual analog scale. All the patients underwent septoplasty; olfactometry was repeated within 1 and 4 months after surgery. Sixty percent of the patients interviewed prior to the surgical treatment complained of compromised sense of smell. Olfactometry revealed this condition in 75% of the patients of whom 52.5% presented with hyposmia of the mixed type. Significant improvement of all parameters of the olfactory function was documented within 1 month after the surgical treatment. The results of estimation of certain parameters (differentiation, identification, overall olfactory index) suggest further recovery of the olfactory function during the next 4 months. It is concluded that normalization of the nasal breathing improves the function of the olfactory analyzer even though the complete recovery of the olfactory function is hardly possible in the patients presenting with the curved nasal septum prior to surgical treatment.     

Local and systemic administration of corticosteroids in the treatment of olfactory loss

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of patients with olfactory dysfunction from local (group A) or systemic (group B) administration of corticosteroids. METHODS: This unblinded study was conducted at a smell and taste outpatient clinic of an institutional referral center. Patients with olfactory loss after infections of the upper respiratory tract, patients with apparent sinonasal disease, and patients suffering from "idiopathic" smell loss were included. Effects of mometasone nasal spray, administered for 1-3 months, were studied in 37 patients. In addition, effects of oral prednisolone were analyzed in 55 patients who received decreasing doses over 21 days, starting with a dose of 40 mg. Olfactory function before and after treatment was measured. RESULTS: Although odor identification scores tended to increase (p = 0.05), mometasone nasal spray did not significantly improve olfactory function, when looking at the entire group of patients or when analyzing the three diagnostic categories separately. In contrast, after systemic administration of corticosteroids, improvement of olfactory function was seen over all diagnostic categories (p < 0.001). Interestingly, olfactory function also improved in patients diagnosed with olfactory loss after upper respiratory tract infection (p = 0.05) and in patients initially diagnosed with "idiopathic," olfactory dysfunction (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: In many patients, local application of corticosteroids appears to have little or no positive effect on olfactory dysfunction, especially when considering long-term changes. Duration of disease, the patient's age/sex, or the presence of parosmia does not appear to predict the response to therapy with corticosteroids.     

Lessac-Madsen共鸣嗓音疗法对声带良性增生性病变患者术后嗓音功能的影响

目的 探讨Lessac-Madsen共鸣嗓音疗法(LMRVT)对支撑喉镜显微镜下声带良性增生性病变切除术后患者嗓音功能的疗效.方法 选取声带良性增生性病变且行喉显微手术后1个月的患者64例,随机分为LMRVT组(32例)和仅手术组(32例),LMRVT组接受为期2个月的Lessac-Madsen共鸣嗓音疗法,仅手术组不...     

The impact and prospect of traumatic brain injury on olfactory function: a cross-sectional and prospective study

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause olfactory loss. The aim of this cross-sectional and prospective study was to determine the prevalence of olfactory loss among 110 patients with TBI within 3 months after the trauma. In 81 patients (“cross-sectional”-group), olfactory function could be measured using the validated “Sniffin’ Sticks” test for odor threshold and odor identification. In addition, the prospective change of olfactory function was studied in 36 patients (“follow-up”-group) by means of a validated odor threshold, discrimination and identification test. Olfactory function was significantly better in patients with TBI I° compared to individuals with TBI II° and III°. Clinically significant improvement of olfactory function was found in 36 % of the patients, most frequently during the first 6 months after the injury, in a median follow-up interval of 21 months. TBI I° has in general no major effect on olfaction. In contrast, patients with TBI II° and III° exhibit smell loss in 57 %. Chances for olfactory recovery were highest within the first 6 months after the trauma.     

A study on the prognostic significance of qualitative olfactory dysfunction

We investigated the frequency and prognostic significance of qualitative olfactory dysfunction (parosmia, phantosmia) in a retrospective patient based study. A total of 392 patients with impairment of olfaction were tested at least two times for their olfactory function using the “Sniffin’ Sticks”. The mean interval between the first and the last test was 11 months. At the first visit 34% of all patients reported parosmia. Parosmia was most frequent in patients with postinfectious olfactory loss (56%), and less frequent in idiopathic, posttraumatic, sinunasal disease with frequencies of 10, 14, and 28%, respectively. In contrast, only 12% of all patients had phantosmias, with no significant differences between the patient groups. Improvement of olfactory function was found in 23% of all patients (n = 90). Pre-existing parosmia or phantosmia had no significant effect on recovery rate. Regarding qualitative olfactory dysfunction, 29% of those patients reporting parosmia reported relief of this symptom after an average of 12 months, whereas 53% of phantosmic patients lost phantosmia during the observation period. Although it has been suggested that olfactory distortion s could be regarded as an indicator of early recovery of decreased olfactory sensitivity, the current data indicate that occurrence of parosmia or phantosmia has little prognostic value. Phantosmia disappears at a faster rate than parosmia. These insights into qualitative olfactory dysfunction are regarded to be significant in the counseling of patients with olfactory loss.     

Stereotactic radiosurgery in the treatment of patients with acoustic tumors.

Stereotactic radiosurgery is performed under local anesthesia, and most patients can be discharged from the hospital within 24 hours of treatment. All patients in our series returned to their preoperative level of employment or function within 5 to 7 days of treatment, and this functional level was maintained over the period of follow-up. "Tumor control" was achieved in 96% of patients during an average follow-up of 1.7 years. Tumor shrinkage occurred in 45% of patients who had at least 1.5 years of follow-up. Useful hearing preservation rates were 50% at 6 months and 30% 1 year after treatment. New delayed facial or trigeminal neuropathy occurred in 34% and 32% of patients, respectively, with a median onset of 5 to 6 months after treatment. The vast majority of cranial neuropathies were partial at onset and tended to improve over time. Other complications included tumor growth (4%), communicating hydrocephalus (4%), and transient adjacent brain parenchymal changes best seen on T2-weighted MRI (9%). Stereotactic radiosurgery is an important alternative treatment for carefully selected patients with acoustic tumors. Indications for treatment include sufficient medical problems to pose excessive surgical risk, advanced age, the presence of bilateral acoustic tumors or contralateral deafness, recurrent tumor despite surgical resection, or refusal to undergo microsurgery. Radiosurgery is contraindicated in patients with symptomatic brain stem or cerebellar compression from a large acoustic tumor. Previous posterior fossa radiotherapy is a relative contraindication that must be considered on a patient to patient basis. Stereotactic radiosurgery should be viewed as an additional weapon in our arsenal for combating acoustic tumors rather than feared as a potential replacement for surgical excision. The strategic role of stereotactic radiosurgery in the overall treatment of patients with acoustic tumors will continue to be refined as longer-term, carefully assessed results become available.     

The olfactory function in the patients suffering from polypous rhinosinusitis following endoscopic surgery on paranasal sinuses

In this study, we examined and treated 50 patients presenting with polypous rhinosinusitis. In all of them, the endoscopic surgical intervention was preceded by estimation of the olfactory function. The examination was repeated within 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation. Endoscopic surgery had positive outcome; however, its beneficial effect was compromised in the patients suffering from polypous rhinosinusitis during a long period and having the history of surgical intervention in the nasal cavity in the past. The best results of the treatment were obtained in the patients having olfactory dysfunction for less than 10 years and in the previously untreated ones. It is concluded that endoscopic rhinosurgical treatment produced positive results in all the 50 patients.     

Change in olfaction after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancer--a prospective study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in olfactory function in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who have received radiation to the head and neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Olfactory function of consecutive patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma was assessed prospectively before irradiation and serially up to 1 year after radiotherapy by the Sniffin' Sticks (Erlangen, Germany) olfactory function test and by a patient symptom visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients were recruited before radiotherapy was commenced. Three patients could not give a reliable response to the Sniffin' Sticks test even in this first assessment, and 7 patients did not return for evaluation after irradiation. Forty-eight patients were available for follow-up assessment. Mean olfactory threshold scores by the Sniffin' Sticks test were found to deteriorate significantly at 12 months when compared with the scores before irradiation (8.3 at 12 months vs 11.5 before irradiation; P =.001). Scores for olfactory discrimination and for identification did not exhibit any significant changes when assessed at 12 months (P >.05 for both). Subjective patient assessment of olfactory function with the visual analogue scale at 12 months did not demonstrate any significant differences when compared with patients' assessment before irradiation (P =.90). An increase in discharge was the only nasal symptom that demonstrated a significant change at 12 months when compared with the assessment before irradiation (P < 001). CONCLUSIONS: Deterioration in olfactory threshold scores was found at 12 months after irradiation and was not noticed by the patients.     

Factors affecting the effect of physical rehabilitation therapy for synkinesis as a sequela to facial nerve palsy

Objective

To investigate factors affecting the effect of physical rehabilitation therapy for synkinesis as a sequela to facial nerve palsy.

术前使用布地奈德对声带息肉手术疗效的影响

目的 研究术前使用布地奈德雾化吸入治疗对手术疗效的影响。方法 按病程将3个月以内和1年以上患者随机分为两组,一组术前给予布地奈德雾化治疗,一组没有,术后两周复诊。分别于初诊、手术前和复诊时使用嗓音测试仪对病人进行测试并记录参数。结果 病程3个月以内患者术前给予雾化治疗后,其术后声学参数明显改善。结论 病程3个月以内患者术前给予雾化治疗能缩短术后恢复时间。     

Olfactory function and nasal nitric oxide.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between nasal nitric oxide (nNO) concentration and its influence on olfactory function. SETTING: Tertiary otolaryngology care centre. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-four patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis and 20 healthy subjects participated. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. OUTCOME MEASURES: The nNO concentration was measured by chemiluminescence and olfactory thresholds were measured with the phenyl ethanol threshold of the Sniffin' Sticks. In chronic rhinosinusitis patients this measure was done preoperatively and 3 months after endoscopic sinus surgery. RESULTS: Healthy subjects had significantly higher nNO concentrations and better olfactory thresholds compared to the chronic rhinosinusitis patients, both before and after those had undergone sinus surgery. Olfactory thresholds and nNO concentrations remained unchanged after surgery in the chronic rhinosinusitis group. In the chronic rhinosinusitis group, nNO concentrations correlated positively with the olfactory threshold preoperatively (P < 0.0001) and 3 months after surgery (P < 0.05). In the control group, nNO production did not correlate with the olfactory thresholds (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Olfactory function and nNO concentration correlate in chronic rhinosinusitis patients but not in healthy subjects. This suggests that both parameters do rather not directly influence each other but it might be the inflammatory processes found in chronic rhinosinusitis that affects olfaction and nNO. Nasal nitric oxide produced by the paranasal sinuses seems not to directly influence olfactory function.     

Olfactory function following nasal surgery: a 1-year follow-up

Olfactory dysfunction is a frequent symptom of nasal and sinunasal disease. Many of these patients undergo nasal sinus or nasal septum surgery. In this study, we evaluated the benefit of nasal surgery on olfactory function over a period of 12 months. Patients included in this study underwent either nasal sinus or nasal septum surgery. All patients were tested for olfactory function using the “Sniffin’ sticks” 16 item odor identification test. In addition, patients were asked to rate their nasal patency as well as their olfactory function at each visit. 157 patients were tested 3.5 months after surgery and 52 patients were tested again 12 months after surgery. Olfactory function improved significantly 3.5 months after surgery in patients, who received nasal sinus surgery; no significant increase was found in patients treated with nasal septum surgery. At the 12-month follow-up, the increase in olfactory function over all patients just missed statistical significance. Individually, however, 19% of the patients exhibited improvement after 3.5 months and 17% after 12 months. These numbers increased in patients with rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, who exhibited improvement of 30% after 3.5 months, and 32% after 12 months. Nasal sinus surgery produced an increase in measured olfactory function, but not nasal septum surgery. This increase appeared to be stable over the examined period of 12 months.     

Effects of radiotherapy on olfaction and nasal function in head and neck cancer patients

PurposeRadiotherapy (RT) is a major component of treatment in head and neck malignancies and often the radiation field includes the nasal cavity and olfactory cleft region. We aimed to assess olfaction, mucociliary clearance time and quality of life (QOL) before RT and during the course of radiotherapy.MethodsThis prospective, observational, cohort study was conducted over a period of 1 year. The olfactory function, mucociliary clearance and QOL of patients with primary head and neck cancers undergoing radiation therapy as part of treatment were assessed prior to radiotherapy and followed up serially up to 3 months after radiotherapy. A total of 21 patients were enrolled. Assessment was done using noninvasive tests for better compliance and ease of examination.ResultsAmong the 21 patients recruited, 18 completed radiotherapy and 13 were assessed 3 months post radiotherapy. Mean olfactory scores (including olfactory threshold and odor identification), using Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) test, deteriorated significantly at the end of radiotherapy (p < 0.001) as compared to scores before irradiation. Subjective assessment of olfaction by Appetite, Hunger and Sensory perception (AHSP) questionnaire did not demonstrate significant impairment in nasal function (p < 0.319) although overall QOL significantly deteriorated (p 0.004). The mucociliary clearance time was prolonged in 72% of the patients at the end of radiotherapy.ConclusionDeterioration in olfactory function was found to occur during the course of radiotherapy with gradual improvement after 3 months. However, patients did not notice olfactory dysfunction subjectively. Mucociliary dysfunction persisted even after 3 months following radiation.     

Identification of viruses in patients with postviral olfactory dysfunction

OBJECTIVE: Causative viruses of postviral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD) have not yet been identified. The aim of this study was to investigate causative viruses in patients with PVOD. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Nasal discharge was collected from 24 patients with PVOD. We investigated the presence of 10 viruses in nasal discharge and examined the time course, with regard to changes in olfactory dysfunction and nasal obstruction in patients with PVOD, using questionnaires, acoustic rhinometry, and olfactory tests. RESULTS: Rhinoviruses were detected in 10 patients by electrophoresis. Rhinoviruses were also confirmed in four patients by nucleotide sequences. Viral serotypes were identified to be human rhinovirus (HRV)-40, HRV-75, HRV-78, and HRV-80. One of the four patients complained of anosmia, whereas another complained of dysosmia. Olfactory testing did not show significant improvement at 4, 8, 11, and 24 weeks after the first visit in the four patients, although results of acoustic rhinometry significantly improved. Two of the four patients complained of olfactory dysfunction even 6 months after the first visit. Coronavirus and parainfluenza virus were detected in one patient each, and Epstein-Barr viruses were detected in three patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study for the first time detected rhinovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, and Epstein-Barr virus in nasal discharge of patients with PVOD. Furthermore, the present study suggests that rhinoviruses can cause olfactory dysfunction through mechanisms other than nasal obstruction and that rhinoviruses can induce various severities and different time courses of olfactory dysfunction.     

Comparison of the effects of nasal steroids and montelukast on olfactory functions in patients with allergic rhinitis

Objective

Olfactory dysfunction is one of the comorbidities associated with allergic rhinitis (AR) and AR is one of the common causes of olfactory problems. We aimed to evaluate by the Sniffin’ Sticks test the effects on olfactory functions of nasal steroids and leukotriene antagonists used for allergic rhinitis.

Hyperbaric oxygen and stellate ganglion blocks for idiopathic sudden hearing loss

Ninety-one patients suffering from idiopathic sudden hearing loss are presented. Twenty-two patients were given medical treatment (vasodilators, steroid hormones and vitamins) alone (group 1). Forty-nine patients were treated with stellate ganglion block (SGB) plus oxygen hyperbaric therapy (OHP) (group 2) and 20 patients were treated with SGB plus OHP along with medical treatment (group 3). The SGB plus OHP treated patients were given bupivacaine, which induced Moor's anterior approach of SGB and then exposed to oxygen at a pressure of 2.4 ATA for 90 min. In group 1, 69% of the patients treated within one week after onset exhibited over 10 dB pure tone average improvement, with only 33% patients treated one to two weeks after onset experiencing over 10 dB. However, 74% of the patients in group 2 and 100% of the patients in group 3 who were treated within two weeks after onset exhibited over 10 dB improvement. More significantly, of the patients which experienced complete loss of hearing, 83% in group 2 and 100% in group 3, exhibited over 10 dB improvement, compared to only 33% in group 1. Moreover, 8 (40%) patients in group 3 recovered to within 20 dB of their normal hearing levels. In group 2, 17 patients were treated two to six weeks after onset and 12 (71%) patients had over 10 dB improvement. SGB plus OHP therapy was shown effective in the treatment of sudden idiopathic hearing loss even when patients were treated more than two weeks after onset.     

鼻内镜下改良下鼻甲成形术与下鼻甲低温等离子消融加骨折外移术治疗重度慢性肥厚性鼻炎的临床对比研究

目的 将鼻内镜下改良下鼻甲成形术与下鼻甲低温等离子消融加骨折外移术治疗重度慢性肥厚性鼻炎(下鼻甲黏膜、骨膜及骨质均增生肥大、鼻甲形态异常、VAS评分重度)进行对比研究。 方法 回顾性分析124例重度慢性肥厚性鼻炎患者,按照手术方式分为A(64例)、B(60例)两组,A组采用改良下鼻甲成形术,B组采用下鼻甲低温等离子消融加骨折外移术。术前1周、术后6个月、术后12个月分别用VAS标准评分患者鼻腔症状。糖精试验评价术前1周及术后6个月两组患者鼻腔黏膜纤毛传送功能。术前1周及术后6个月测定鼻阻力,评定鼻塞改善情况。 结果 下鼻甲低温等离子消融加骨折外移术组术中出血、手术时间较改良下鼻甲成形组明显减少,且术后并发症较少;术后6个月两种患者鼻塞均有显著改善;两种手术方式对鼻腔黏膜纤毛功能均无明显影响。A组平均手术时间27.80 min、并发症发生率9.38%,B组平均手术时间19.10 min、并发症发生率6.67%。两组患者术后6个月VAS平均评分差异无统计学意义(P=0.12),术后12个月差异有统计学意义(P=0.03)。 结论 改良下鼻甲成形术与下鼻甲低温等离子消融加骨折外移术治疗重度慢性肥厚性鼻炎近期效果(6个月内)都良好,但远期效果(1年以上)改良下鼻甲成形术效果更好,因而建议对于重度慢性肥厚性鼻炎患者应因人而异精准诊疗。     

Evaluation of the medical and surgical treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis: a prospective, randomised, controlled trial

OBJECTIVES: To conduct the first prospective, randomized, controlled trial evaluating and comparing the medical and surgical treatment of polypoid and nonpolypoid chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety patients with CRS were equally randomized either to medical or surgical therapy. All patients underwent pre- and posttreatment assessments of visual analogue score (VAS), the Sinonasal Outcome Test-20 (SNOT-20), the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), nitric oxide (NO), acoustic rhinometry, saccharine clearance time (SCT), and nasal endoscopy. Each patient had three assessments: before starting the treatment, after 6 months, and, finally, after 1 year. RESULTS: Both the medical and surgical treatment of CRS significantly improved almost all the subjective and objective parameters of CRS (P <.01), with no significant difference being found between the medical and surgical groups (P >.05), except for the total nasal volume in CRS (P <.01) and CRS without polyposis (P <.01) groups, in which the surgical treatment demonstrated greater changes. CONCLUSION: CRS should be initially targeted with maximal medical therapy (e.g., a 3 month course of a macrolide antibiotic, douche, and topical steroid), with surgical treatment being reserved for cases refractory to medical therapy. The presence of nasal polyps is not a poor prognostic factor for the efficacy of CRS therapy, either surgical or medical.     

Taste function after stapes surgery

Objective

A manipulation of chorda tympani nerve (CTN) is frequently necessary during the surgical therapy of stapedial ankylosis. The aim of this study was to re-assess the taste function before and after stapes surgery in patients with unilateral stapes ankylosis.

Methods

Eighteen patients (14 female and 4 male) with unilateral stapedial ankylosis were included. Taste and olfactory function were measured preoperatively, 3 days and 3 months after surgery by questionnaire, chemical taste test, electrogustometry, and Sniffin'Sticks. The patients who reported deterioration in taste and revealed pathological taste test results were re-investigated 8–12 months after surgery. Postoperatively 11 patients were treated intravenously for 3 days for inner ear protection with 1 g of cortisone. The gustatory and olfactory results were compared with age and sex specific normative data.

Results

A significant transient decrease of gustatory measurement values was found on the ipsilateral two thirds of the anterior tongue. 12 out of 17 patients whose CTN was slightly manipulated during stapes surgery reported tongue sensations, such as numbness or gustatory blindness of the ipsilateral tongue side. The measures of chemical taste test significantly decrease in lateralized taste test on the ipsilateral side and in whole mouth testing. There was no significant increase of the EGM measures at the ipslateral tongue. In 11 of 12 patients with symptoms, complaints recovered within one year after surgery completely. The factor “cortisone” did not have a significant effect on the taste test results after surgery.

Conclusion

In conclusion, even after minor CTN manipulation the rate of postoperative taste disorders or tongue symptoms after stapes surgery is high. The symptoms appear to be transient. Therefore CTN should be preserved in stapes surgery after mild trauma of the CTN. Transient taste alteration should be mentioned prior to stapes surgery.