Question

A 32-year-old male carpenter fell backwards off a ladder while at work about a month ago. His coworkers said that he hit the back of his head, but the patient does not remember this. He apparently lost consciousness for approximately 10 minutes, and was sent to the emergency room. A head CT performed in the ER was normal, including the sinuses. There was no apparent skull fracture. He recovered alertness and awareness and insisted on going home. Symptoms of headache and dizziness subsided after a few days. However, he has continued to experience a persistent loss of the sense of smell and taste since his accident. Food tastes bland, and he cannot fully sense odors such as coffee, freshly cut lumber, or his wife's perfume. Examination shows his sense of smell to be greatly diminished when tested with several types of odiferous substances, in both nostrils. Taste sensation was normal for sweet, salty, bitter, and sour. Examination of the nose and sinuses was normal. The remaining general physical and neurologic exam was normal.

What is the diagnosis, treatment options, and explanation of your hypothesis?

Answer 1

Anosmia is the diagnosis

There is no treatment for traumatic head injury induced anosmia . Patient may regain sense of smell within 6 months of injury otherwise no treatment.

diagnosis is hypothesised on the basis that traumatic head injury may cause damage to olfactory nerve resulting in loss of sense of smell.