Medicolegal screening of olfactory function

Prior to nose surgery the birhinal ability to smell should be tested routinely. From the medico-legal point of view a short screening-test consisting of 5 or 8 test items is not sufficient. It is recommended to use an identification test with 12 or 16 items. The results of these tests taken together with the patients' self estimation, the patients' history and the rhinoscopic findings offer a satisfactory evaluation of the patients' ability to smell in most cases. In case of discrepancies a more detailed test determining the TDI-value is recommendable. If the 16-identification test is used, it is sufficient to add the values of the threshold and the discrimination measurements with the "Sniffin' Sticks" to complete a full TDI score.