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8) Return to Sport
8.3 Concussion surveillance in the national rugby league: 2017–2019
  1. Andrew Gardner1,2,
  2. Grant Iverson3,4,5,6
  1. 1Priority Research Centre for Stroke and Brain Injury, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
  2. 2Hunter New England Local Health District Sports Concussion Clinic, Waratah, Australia
  3. 3Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
  4. 4Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, USA
  5. 5MasGeneral Hospital for Children™ Sport Concussion Program, Boston, USA
  6. 6Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Boston, USA

Abstract

Objectives To examine the rates of concussion over the course of three seasons of the National Rugby League (NRL).

Design Descriptive cohort study.

Setting The NRL match play concussion injury surveillance system.

Participants All NRL players who participated in the 2017, 2018, and/or 2019 season.

Outcome Measures The variables of interest for the present study included the: (i) frequency of Sideline Injury Surveillance identified Head Impact Events; (ii) frequency of Head Impact Assessments; (iii) frequency of medically diagnosed concussions; (iv) number of days to medical clearance; and (v) number of games missed following concussion.

Main Results There were 727 Head Injury Assessments conducted and 246 medically diagnosed concussions during the three NRL seasons. The mean number of days until medical clearance was 7.39 (SD=6.96, Md=6, interquartile range=5–9; range=0–79 days). There was a statistically significant difference in number of days to be medically cleared to return to full contact or match play between seasons [χ2(2)=21.15, p<.001]. Five players were cleared at 0 days, and overall 36.7% of players received medical clearance within 5 days (the minimum time between NRL rounds each week). The large majority of players, 84.4% did not miss a single game. On average 0.25 (SD=1.23, range=0–10) games were missed following concussion.

Conclusions Over the past three seasons there is a trend towards concussed NRL players having greater period of time before receiving medical clearance to return to full contact training and match play. However, despite this trend, concussed NRL players tend to receive medical clearance to return to full contact training and match play before the subsequent game, with most athletes not missing any games.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-concussion.110

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