title: Traumatic mutism in severe head injury relieved by oral diazepam.
abstract: A 34-year-old woman with a severe closed-head injury had many impairments including apparent global aphasia. After a diazepam premedication for a motor point block she was heard to speak a few words. A trial of oral diazepam succeeded in restoring speech adequate to make her needs known, which persisted on a maintenance dose of 5 mg t.d.s. The possible diagnoses and reasons for this phenomenon are discussed. We suggest that diazepam may be useful in assessing speech in selected people with severe head injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Caradoc-Davies
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009155:Mutism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D003975:Diazepam