title: New-Onset Stutter After Electrode Insertion in the Ventrocaudalis Nucleus for Face Pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventrocaudalis nucleus of the thalamus is a last resort treatment for chronic refractory pain. DBS is generally a safe procedure, although it can result in functional disturbances depending on the site of stimulation. There has been 1 previous report of stuttering induced by microlesioning of the thalamus, as well as several reports of stuttering induced by stimulation of the thalamus and other related structures in the brain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the case of a patient with trigeminal deafferentation face pain who was treated with DBS of the ventrocaudalis nucleus thalamus and developed a reversible stutter immediately on insertion of the electrode. The stutter improved significantly over 12 days after implant; however, the device was not effective in relieving the patient's pain and was removed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stuttering is a rare complication of deep brain exploration of the sensory thalamus. Our coordinates are near to but in a distinct anatomic region compared with cases previously described as having similar effects on speech.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: levine.adrian.b@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Adrian B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Keith W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: MacDougall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D020878:Device Removal; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013342:Stuttering / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D020651:Ventral Thalamic Nuclei / Q000293:injuries*
keywords: Deep brain stimulation; Neuromodulation; Pain; Speech; Stutter