The olfactory nerves are located in the back of your head, just above the top of your neck. If you place your hand on the back of your head you will feel the small area where the neck ends and the skull begins. A little above that point inside the skull are the olfactory nerves, which are responsible for your sense of smell and taste. When olfactory injury from brain injury is sustained, patients quickly realize how much they took their sense of smell for granted.
The sense of smell can be altered through a car accident if these olfactory nerves or damaged, or if there is damage to the frontal region of the brain. Only a small percentage of people who sustain whiplash and other injuries through car accidents will have olfactory injury from brain injury, but for those who are unlucky enough to experience it, it is quite devastating.
The Evidence
One recent study exploring the rate of occurrence for olfactory injury from brain injury was conducted in the Netherlands at the University Hospital in the city of Maastricht. The researchers included patients who came into the hospital within six hours of being in a car accident. In order to qualify for the study, patients had to be diagnosed with mild traumatic brain disorder and could not have any prior mental illness, brain injury, or a history of alcoholism.
In addition, the patients included in the study all experienced post traumatic amnesia for less than one hour and lost consciousness for a short period of time. None showed focal neurological signs and all had a Glascow Coma score of 14 or 15 when entering the hospital. These symptoms were what the researchers used to qualify patients as mild traumatic brain injury sufferers.
Finally, the patients in the study were reasonably split by gender, with 61 men and 50 women. The average age of participants was 34.
After the initial examination in the hospital after the accident, patients returned to the hospital for testing two weeks later. It was determined that a quarter of the included patients had distorted or loss of smell two weeks after their accident. Just 4% had a complete loss of smell with 22% experiencing a lesser amount of smell distortion or loss.
Since these percentages are higher than in the normal population, it was concluded that olfactory injury from brain injury and the resulting loss of smell is a valid incurrence.
For reference, if you took a sample of people from the population who have never experienced brain injury, only about 2% would have olfactory damage and only 0.2% would have complete loss of smell. That is quite a difference from the study with people who had experienced injury to the brain in an accident two weeks prior.
What It Means to You
So, what does this proof of olfactory injury from brain damage have to do with you and those you love? If you are ever in an auto accident that results in even mild whiplash and/or brain injury, you could also be at risk of losing your smell due to damage in the olfactory nerves or the frontal region of your brain.
Yes, this happens to only a small percentage of accident victims, but it is something everyone needs to be aware of. The extent of damages that can be suffered from even low impact or low speed car accidents can be extremely high.
If you or someone you love is in an accident and experiences whiplash or mild brain injury, make sure you ask to be screened for olfactory damage. Your or your loved one’s sense of smell may be on the line.
This article is considered general information only; please consult a medical professional concerning your specific condition.
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- Is It Chronic Pain or Traumatic Brain Injury? Post-Accident Screening & Care is Crucial
- Ligament Damage from Whiplash – A Quick Introduction
- Dealing with Brain Injury and Aggression after an Accident