Changes of the Olfaction after Nasal Surgery in Chronic Sinusitis

Choung, Woo Chan; Song, Kyu Tae; Kim, Sung Wan; Kim, Kwang Il

Abstract

It is well known that olfactory dysfunction relates to many etiologies such as obstructive nasal and sinus diseases, upper respiratory tract infections, head trauma, aging, congenital anomalies, endocrine diseases, drugs and so forth. Chronic paranasal sinusitis is the most common etiology of olfactory dysfunction. So, We studied the effect of the surgery on olfaction in patients with chronic paranasal sinusitis. A preoperative and postoperative evaluation of the olfactory function was carried out in 80 patients using the T and T olfactometer. All patients were divided into two groups-chronic paranasal sinusitis and chronic paranasal sinusitis with polyposis. According to the preoperative recognition threshold, olfactory function of all patients were divided into five groups. The group 1 was normal, group 2 was mild decreased, group 3 was moderate decreased, group 4 was severe decreased and group 5 was anosmia. Almost patients were improved on olfaction in the postoperative state. The olfactory fissure was usually closed in patients with nasal polyp. In the patients with closed olfactory fissure, recognition threshold was 4.9+/-1.5 and in opened olfactory fissure, 1.9+/-1.8. Therefore the olfactory fissure was the one of the most important factors on olfaction.