Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the rates of olfactory impairment following septoplasty and rhinoplasty to determine the recovery rates of postoperative olfaction changes.
Methodology: This prospective observational study was conducted at Rizgari Teaching Hospital, Erbil, from October 2024 to July 2025, and included 50 patients (septoplasty group: n=25; rhinoplasty group: n=25). Baseline and 3-month post-operative olfactory function was assessed utilizing the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-9 and the culture-modified Sniffin' Sticks test of identification of odors. QOD-NS scores evaluated changes in condition. Any difference in means was evaluated using paired t-test statistics (p<0.05).
Results: Septoplasty was associated with an 80% improvement in sense of smell (mean improvement in QOD-NS: +3.52; p=0.0001). Among rhinoplasty patients, 44% experienced a worsening (delta = -0.52, p=0.4821). Between-group differences were significant (p=0.0003). Objective olfaction scores did not differ between the groups (p=1.000). QOD-NS <9 for olfaction was achieved in only 18.0% of patients postoperatively.
Conclusion: The subjective sense of olfaction is improved by septoplasty to the extent that airflow can be considered, while rhinoplasty has the disadvantage that the olfactory function is degraded. Objective measurements indicate minimal changes, suggesting that peripheral factors are involved.

Key words: Olfactory performance, septoplasty, rhinoplasty.