Effect of surgical treatment of olfactory disturbance caused by localized ethmoiditis

Twenty patients who had disturbance of the sense of smell caused by localized inflammation of the ethmoid sinus were studied to determine the effects of endonasal ethmoidectomy on olfaction. The patients were evaluated pre and post-operatively regarding their subjective olfaction, and with the T&T olfactometry and the Alinamine intravenous administration test, both of which are widely used in Japan. The improvement rate was 70.0% subjectively and 80.0% with T&T olfactometry 6 months after surgery. It is concluded that surgery is worthwhile treatment for olfactory disturbances caused by localized ethmoiditis.