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 have separate online modules on concussion management which go into greater detail than will be covered here.
Concussion is a condition that is 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 concussion modules can be found here.