Olfactory and executive dysfunctions following orbito-basal lesions in traumatic brain injury. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Guise, E.; Alturki, A. Y.; Laguë-Beauvais, M.; LeBlanc, J.; Champoux, M. C.; Couturier, C.; Anderson, K.; Lamoureux, J.; Marcoux, J.; Maleki, M.; Feyz, M.; Frasnelli, J.
• Is Part Of: Brain injury. Volume 29:Number 6(2015)
• Page Start: 730
• Page End: 738
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Brain damage -- Periodicals; Brain -- Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; Brain Injuries -- Periodicals; 617.481
• DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2015.1004748
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-9052

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Objective</italic>: To study the acute relationship between olfactory function and traumatic brain injury (TBI), cognitive functions and outcome.</p> <p> <italic>Methods</italic>: Sixty-two patients with TBI were evaluated within the first 2 weeks following TBI. The Sniffin'Sticks identification test was used to assess olfaction. A neuropsychological evaluation was carried out to assess attention, verbal fluency, naming, memory, problem-solving and mental flexibility. The extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE) and the Disability Rating Scale (DRS) were rated at discharge from acute care.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: Traumatic lesions located in the basal frontal area resulted in odour identification scores that were significantly lower than when lesions were elsewhere (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was shown between odour identification scores and mental flexibility scores (<italic>p</italic> = 0.004) and patients with hyposmia had worse performances on executive tests measuring problem-solving, verbal fluency and mental flexibility (<italic>p</italic> < 0.01). Moreover, the odour identification score and the DRS total score were related (<italic>p</italic> = 0.019).</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions</italic>: These findings add information regarding acute olfactory status following TBI and provide evidence on the importance of assessing olfaction very early post-TBI in order to plan intervention and determine what accident prevention advice will be required for home or work re-integration.</p> </abstract>