Platelet rich plasma in management of anosmia

Abstract

Background: Anosmia is a loss of sense of smell that means inability to perceive odors. Functional anosmia is loss of smell due to nasal obstruction while organic anosmia is due to damage of the peripheral olfactory area causing permanent loss of smell as post-traumatic anosmia. Objectives: A diagnostic approach to detect the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in the olfactory area as a treatment for anosmia. Study design and methodology: A prospective study was done in otorhinolaryngology department, Aswan university hospital from June 2018 to August 2019, 80 patients were fulfilling the inclusion criteria presented with anosmia were enrolled from otorhinolaryngology outpatient to share in this study. Approximately an amount of 1mL of PRP was injected in each nasal cavity in the olfactory area (located on superior turbinate and superior portion of lateral and medial walls of nasal cavity) guided by nasal endoscope. The procedure is done with follow-up of patients after 1 month. Results: Results of our study revealed that 46 out of 80 patients (57.5%) said that “their smell came back” while 34 out of 80 patients (42.5%) showed no improvement, thus these results show no statistical significance between proportion in a group showing improvement and proportion in the group showing no improvement. 5 patients with idiopathic anosmia improved with 100% ratio. Conclusion: Although there is no statistical significance difference between the two groups of patients all patients with idiopathic anosmia were improved.