Long Covid patients who lost sense of smell can be helped with surgery : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

UCLH research finds that Long Covid patients who lost sense of smell can be helped with surgery : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

This one was in a GUardian article that the MEA fb linked to as well


Is it also interesting in perhaps providing any clues it could provide regarding long covid and maybe ME/CFS?

Basically the surgery involved widening the nose passage.

The theories they note in the article are:

 

Here's the study:

The Effectiveness of Functional Septorhinoplasty in Improving COVID-19-related Olfactory Dysfunction

Alfonso Luca Pendolino, Bruno Scarpa, Peter J. Andrews 

[Line breaks added]

Abstract
Long-Term COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction (C19OD) remains a significant challenge with no established treatment providing meaningful improvement. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of functional septorhinoplasty (fSRP) in improving olfactory dysfunction in patients with persistent C19OD compared to a control group undergoing olfactory training (OT).

In this prospective study patients with persistent C19OD undergoing fSRP were enrolled while those declining surgery continued with OT as the control group. Patients were followed for six months with olfactory function assessed using Sniffin' Sticks (S'S) and nasal airflow evaluated through peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) and acoustic rhinometry (AR). Among the participants 12 underwent fSRP while 13 were in the control group.

Significant improvements (p < 0.05) in all S'S scores were observed in the fSRP group but not in the control group. TDI scores improved above the minimal clinically important difference only in the fSRP group. Strong correlations were found between olfactory scores and nasal measurements. Comparison of olfactory threshold gains between groups revealed a statistically significant benefit in the fSRP group.

These findings suggest that fSRP can significantly improve persistent C19OD providing a notable olfactory threshold gain compared to OT.

Link | PDF (Facial Plastic Surgery) [Open Access]

 

Looking at the data I don't see much evidence of a 'kick start' to recovery. There was a very marginal improvement in the surgery group -perhaps not surprisingly if the airway was enlarged. I presume the normal airway architecture has some protective functions and those will be permanently lost whether ornate there is eventual nerve recovery.