Chapter 3 - Head injuries in Rugby Union
Aims of this chapter
- Emphasise concussion as a significant injury.
- Recognise the signs of severe head injuries.
- Appreciate the link between head and spinal injury.
- Appreciate the management priorities in head injury are to open the airway and protect the neck.
Introduction
World Rugby has a separate module on concussion management which has far greater detail than will be covered here.
Concussion is a condition that is more commonly seen in Rugby, yet serious head injuries are extremely rare. However, in the early stages, there is little difference between how a player is affected by concussion or a structural brain injury.
The World Rugby Player Welfare website concussion modules can be found here.