ArticleEuropean archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery2026
Characteristics of pediatric olfactory airflow based on computational fluid dynamics analysis.
Article in European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
purposePediatric olfactory development remains poorly understood, particularly regarding how age-related nasal morphological changes influence olfactory airflow dynamics and odorant transport. This study aimed to characterize age-dependent variations in olfactory airflow patterns and odorant distribution within the pediatric nasal cavity using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.
methodsThree-dimensional nasal cavity models were reconstructed from high-resolution sinus CT scans of 11 pediatric patients (ages 3-18 years) using Mimics Innovation Suite. CFD simulations of inspiratory airflow were performed using OpenFOAM with physiologically scaled, age- and sex-dependent flow rates. Odorant transport was modeled as a dimensionless passive scalar representing an inert, non-reactive tracer gas to analyze concentration dynamics and arrival times at the olfactory mucosa across age groups.
resultsThe olfactory cleft volume and airflow generally followed an upward trend from early childhood until approximately 15 years of age, with more pronounced enlargement observed in late adolescence (15-18 years). Young children (3-6 years) demonstrated markedly reduced olfactory airflow delivery compared to late adolescents (15-18 years). Odorant transport analysis revealed prolonged arrival times and reduced peak concentrations at the olfactory mucosa in younger subjects, indicating that anatomical immaturity constrains olfactory efficiency in early childhood.
conclusionAge-related nasal morphological development substantially influences olfactory airflow dynamics and odorant transport efficiency in children. These computational findings provide mechanistic insights into pediatric olfactory development and may inform clinical assessment strategies for childhood olfactory disorders.
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