AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY TO ASSESS THE CORRELATION OF PREOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE OLFACTORY FUNCTION AFTER SEPTAL CORRECTION

Abstract

Background: In a worldwide survey, it was reported that 1.2 per cent of the population suffered from olfactory dysfunction. However, olfactory dysfunction is often neglected by clinicians because of difficulty in quantifying the olfactory sense and the lack of a simple, cheap and reliable olfactory test. Olfactory evoked response testing is sophisticated but impractical for daily clinical practice.

Objectives: The main aims and objectives of our study were to study the subjective and objective assessment of olfactory function in patients with deviated nasal septum undergoing septoplasty.

Methods: All patients included in the study were evaluated in detail with clinical history included short form nasal questionnaire, history using visual analogue scale for subjective grading of olfactory dysfunction, Test of olfaction, Routine ENT examination including anterior Rhinoscopy, where the deviation of nasal septum was assessed in detail, Anterior rhinomanometry using nasal olives, Diagnostic nasal endoscopy, biochemical tests like Hematological and urine analysis.

Results: The preoperative and postoperative VAS score was found to be statistically significant [rho= -0.713, p=0.000(<0.001)]. The preoperative and postoperative SFNQ scores and composite olfactory scores and the correlation was found to be significant [rho= -0.497, p=0.001(<0.001)]. The pre and postoperative rhinomanometry nasal air flow scores during expiration and inspiration was found to be significant [rho= 0.771, p=0.000(<0.001)].

Conclusion: As earlier studies our study also found improved olfactory function following septoplasty mainly because of increased nasal airflow caused by correction of deviated nasal septum.

Keywords: Active Anterior Rhinomanometry (AAR), Odor Identification Testing,

Olfactory Function, Rhinoplasty, Septoplasty, Smell Dysfunction.