Overview

• London Hospitals (UCLH) researchers used functional septorhinoplasty (fSRP) to treat smell loss in long Covid patients.
• The surgery improves airflow to the olfactory region by widening nasal passages, aiding the delivery of odorants to stimulate smell recovery.
• A study involving 25 patients found all 12 individuals who underwent surgery experienced improved smell, while none in the control group did.
• Long Covid smell loss affects an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 people in the UK, with previous treatments like smell training and corticosteroids often proving ineffective.
• Researchers are now exploring potential brain changes following the surgery to better understand its long-term benefits.