Key Learning Points
- Head injury can be classified as minor, moderate or severe
- Medical treatment is targeted at preventing secondary brain injury
- On the field of play D or neurological assessment is performed using ACVPU
- All participants following a head injury who have an ACVPU of C or less, should be extricated with spinal immobilisation from the pitch as soon as it is safe to do so
- For assessment of disability or D in the medical room the GCS is used
- Sports-related concussion is a sub-type of traumatic brain injury
- A high index of suspicion is needed for the potential of concussive injury
- Medical room assessment of the player with suspected concussion should use a standardised approach
- Players with concussion should have medical follow-up
- The treatment of concussion consists of relative physical and cognitive rest
- Once the player is asymptomatic, a stepwise return to play can begin
- Practitioners need to be aware of the appropriate sport and age-specific individualised rehabilitation return to Sport process
- There is no “same day” return to play for a player diagnosed with concussion