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Acute transient cerebellar dysfunction and stuttering following mild closed head injury

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Abstract

Introduction

A wide range of pathologies can cause cerebellar dysfunction but there have been few reports of transient dysfunction after mild head injury. There are none describing stuttering as an acute symptom after such injuries.

Case report

We report a 12-year-old boy who presented with headache, stuttering speech and truncal and bilateral peripheral cerebellar dysfunction after falling prone from his skateboard. Computed tomographic brain imaging showed normal results. All clinical symptoms and signs had resolved within 24 h obviating further investigation. A follow up clinical interview and examination 4 weeks later revealed no recurrence of cerebellar or speech dysfunction.

Conclusion

This is the first reported case of acute transient cerebellar dysfunction and stuttering after mild closed head injury. Neurogenic causes for stuttering are increasingly being recognised.

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Acknowledgements

C.R.P.L. is supported by the V.J. Chapman Research Fellowship from the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland, New Zealand

    Hian K. Yeoh & Christopher R. P. Lind

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia

    Christopher R. P. Lind

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Starship Children’s Hospital, Private Bag, 92023, Auckland, New Zealand

    Christopher R. P. Lind & Andrew J. J. Law

Authors
  1. Hian K. Yeoh
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  2. Christopher R. P. Lind
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  3. Andrew J. J. Law
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Correspondence to Christopher R. P. Lind.

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Yeoh, H.K., Lind, C.R.P. & Law, A.J.J. Acute transient cerebellar dysfunction and stuttering following mild closed head injury. Childs Nerv Syst 22, 310–313 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-005-1154-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-005-1154-0

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