• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1570-1576
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• 2000

Objective : To evaluate objectively the sites of injury in patients with posttraumatic olfactory deficits and to suggest the diagnostic procedure for evaluation of posttraumatic anosmia. Methods : Ten patients with posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction were examined by means of olfactory testing, sinoscopy, contrast filled paranasal sinus computed tomography(contrast filled PNS CT) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). Five normal persons without olfactory dysfunction were also evauluated. The aerodynamic patency of olfactory cleft was examined by contrast filled PNS CT. The olfactory system(oflactory bulbs, olfactory tracts, inferior frontal region, hippocampi, or temporal lobes) was investigated in detail with MRI. The difference in the size of the olfactory bulb between normal volunteers and anosmic patients was evaluated by Student's t test. Results : Contrast filled dynamic CT scan was useful method for the evaluation of dynamic patency of the olfactory cleft. Paranasal CT scan of the all anosmic patients showed dynamic reflux of contrast media in olfactory cleft on valsalva maneuver. For the largest cross-sectional area and great height, the difference in olfactory bulb size between normal volunteers and patients was statistically significant(p<0.001) in MRI study. Conclusion : Posttraumatic anosmia was completely evaluated by olfactory testing, sinoscopy, and contrast filled CT scan for differentiation between conductive type and neurogenic type. Neurogenic anosmia was confirmed by perfect localization with MRI study.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2007

Objective : We studied whether frontal skull base fracture has an impact on the occurrence and recovery of anosmia and/or ageusia following frontal traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods : Between May 2003 and April 2005, 102 consecutive patients who had hemorrhage or contusion on the frontal lobe base were conservatively treated. Relevant clinical and radiographic data were collected, and assessment of impaired smell and taste sensation were also surveyed up to at least 12 months post-injury. Results : Among 102 patients, anosmia was noted in 22 (21.6%), of whom 10 had ageusia at a mean 4.4 days after trauma. Bilateral frontal lobe injuries were noted in 20 of 22 patients with anosmia and in all 10 patients with ageusia. Frontal skull base fracture was noted in 41 patients, of whom 9 (21.4%) had anosmia and 4 (9.5%) had ageusia. There was no statistical difference in the occurrence of anosmia and ageusia between patients with or without fracture. Of the 22 patients with anosmia, recovery from anosmia occurred in nine (40.9%) at the interval of 6 to 24 months after trauma, of whom six had frontal skull base fracture and three were not associated with fracture. Recovery of anosmia was significantly higher in patients without fracture than those with fracture (p<0.05). Recovery from ageusia occurred in only two of 10 patients at the interval of 18 to 20 months after trauma and was not eminent in patients without fracture. Conclusion : One should be alert and seek possibile occurrence of the anosmia and/or ageusia following frontal TBI. It is suggested that recovery is quite less likely if such patients have fractures on the frontal base, and these patients should wait for at least 6 to 18 months to anticipate such recovery if there is no injury to the central olfactory structures.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.433-442
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• 2010

Purpose: Many authors reported about the posttraumatic nasal aesthetic complications. However, the studies for functional or intranasal complications are not enough yet. We identified relatively high prevalence of nasal obstruction and olfactory dysfunction in nasal synechiae, and the synechiae formation was a frequently occurred after the nasal bone reduction. And then, the aim of this study is to identify the usefulness of the treatment of intranasal synechiae. Methods: We reviewed the data from 10 patients with symptomatic intranasal synechiae from June 2007 to June 2009. We enforced evaluation with preoperative CT in all patients but postoperative CT within complicated patients. We studied 10 patients with intranasal synechiae who had persistence postoperative symptoms. We studied the patients who were operated by removal of synechiae and ancillary surgical treatments in the last two years. Results: In the previous report, the incidence of intranasal synechiae was 15% (n=62) and symptomatic synechiae was 16% (10/62). We classified the nasal bone fracture according to Stranc classification. In this paper, the incidence of treated intranasal synechiae was 13% (2/15) in Frontal Impact (FI) Type I, 11% (2/18) in FI Type II, 100% (2/2) in FI Type III, 0% (0/2) in Lateral Impact (LI) Type I, 25% (3/12) in LI Type II, and 33% (1/3) in LI Type III, respectively. After removal of synechiae, all patients improved nasal obstruction and little improved olfactory disturbance. Conclusion: Simple removal of synechiae by scissors improved postoperative symptoms and complications such as nasal obstruction and olfactory dysfunction. After removal of synechiae, all patients improved nasal obstruction, however, little improved anosmia. So, we thought that olfactory dysfunction may result in many intranasal factors. First of all, education of delicate procedure regarding this subject should be empathized accordingly.