Given the importance of the sense of smell and the many possible reasons for its im pairment in patients with spinal cord injury, we performed a study to determine the status of olfactory senses among 28 men (22 to 82 years of age) who had been afflicted with spinal cord injury for 2 years. Lesions were complete in 29 percent; 71 percent had tetraplegia. Each subject was interviewed to determine chemosensory risk factors and then given two standard tests of olfaction: the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) and the Chicago Smell Test (CST). On the former, nor malized for age and gender, 26 patients (93 percent) were hyposmic and on the latter, 11 (39 percent) were hyposmic. These data reflect a high incidence of olfactory dys function. Analyzed statistically, this impairment was found to be unrelated to smok ing, alcohol or drug use, medications, or level of completeness of the spinal cord le sion. Routine testing for olfactory dysfunction among patients with spinal cord injury, whether or not they have a history of head trauma, deserves consideration. The man agement of patients with smell loss should be modified to maintain their nutritional status and safety. Key Words: Chronic spinal cord injury—Olfaction.
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