Q Can a smell disorder caused by head trauma recover? It has been three months since my accident and I still cannot smell anything.
A The recovery rate for smell disorders after head trauma is about 30 to 40%, lower than for other causes. Three months after an accident is still a time when recovery remains possible, so it is important not to give up on active treatment and olfactory training. Because nerve regeneration occurs very slowly, the course should be observed over 1 to 2 years.
Detailed Answer
Smell disorders caused by head trauma are often difficult to recover from because the olfactory nerve fibers are frequently sheared at the cribriform plate. The recovery rate is about 30 to 40%, lower than for COVID-19 (85%) or rhinitis (mostly recovers). However, because nerve regeneration occurs very slowly, the final prognosis can only be assessed by observing for 1 to 2 years after the accident.
Factors positive for recovery: starting olfactory training within 6 months of the accident, partial residual smell (partial loss has a better prognosis than complete loss), and younger age. If there is no atrophy of the olfactory bulb on MRI, the likelihood of recovery is higher.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, we view post-traumatic smell disorder as a state in which the qi and blood of the brain and nasal cavity have become tangled by injury, and we recommend prescriptions that improve blood flow around the brain along with olfactory training. Even when a complete cure is difficult, we aim to maintain residual function and improve quality of life.
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