Efficacy of stellate ganglion block for refractory sensorineural olfactory dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of stellate ganglion block for persistent and refractory sensorineural olfactory dysfunction.

METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library was conducted for studies published before December 2025. Eligible studies assessed subjective and/or objective olfactory outcomes before and after stellate ganglion block and, when available, compared stellate ganglion block with placebo or no treatment.

RESULTS

Nine studies involving 441 participants were included. Stellate ganglion block was associated with greater improvements in olfactory composite, identification and subjective scores than controls, but between-group differences were not statistically significant. Subjective and objective improvement rates following stellate ganglion block were 68.9 and 63.4 per cent, respectively. No major adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSION

Stellate ganglion block appears safe and may provide modest olfactory improvement, but its superiority over control treatments remains unproven, warranting further randomised controlled trials.