Quantitative effects of nasal surgery on olfaction.

A prospective study of 100 patients undergoing nasal surgery was done to quantitate the effects of nasal surgery on olfaction. Patients were evaluated pre- and postoperatively with regard to their subjective olfaction, and pre- and postoperative olfactograms were obtained using a simple office olfactometer. Thirty-two patients had normal olfaction during the course of study. Forty-nine improved following surgery. Eight patients had a decrease in olfaction after surgery. Two of these were related to allergic rhinitis. One patient had a total loss of olfaction following a septorhinoplasty. The authors conclude that most patients undergoing nasal surgery will have either an improvement or no change in olfaction after surgery.