Cervical spinal cord injury in rugby union and rugby league: are incidence rates declining in NSW?

Berry, Jesia G.; Harrison, James Edward; Yeo, John D.; Cripps, Raymond; Stephenson, S.

doi:10.1111/j.1467-842x.2006.tb00869.x

Cited by 28 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Between 1975–1985 and 1986–1996 there was a 67% reduction in serious spinal cord injuries attributed to scrum engagement, from 12 to 4 injuries,50 and there was a tendency for acute spinal cord injuries to be less severe in the period 1997–2002 compared with 1986–1996 54. Similar findings are reported by Berry et al 56 who tracked the incidence rates of severe cervical spinal cord injury in rugby union and rugby league over 17 years (1986–2003) and found a non-significant decrease in the incidence rate of these severe injuries over time but with wide CIs.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 83%

Injury and biomechanical perspectives on the rugby scrum: a review of the literature

et al. 2014

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As a collision sport, rugby union has a relatively high overall injury incidence, with most injuries being associated with contact events. Historically, the set scrum has been a focus of the sports medicine community due to the perceived risk of catastrophic spinal injury during scrummaging. The contemporary rugby union scrum is a highly dynamic activity but to this point has not been well characterised mechanically. In this review, we synthesise the available research literature relating to the medical and biomechanical aspects of the rugby union scrum, in order to (1) review the injury epidemiology of rugby scrummaging; (2) consider the evidence for specific injury mechanisms existing to cause serious scrum injuries and (3) synthesise the information available on the biomechanics of scrummaging, primarily with respect to force production. The review highlights that the incidence of acute injury associated with scrummaging is moderate but the risk per event is high. The review also suggests an emerging acknowledgement of the potential for scrummaging to lead to premature chronic degeneration injuries of the cervical spine and summarises the mechanisms by which these chronic injuries are thought to occur. More recent biomechanical studies of rugby scrummaging confirm that scrum engagement forces are high and multiplanar, but can be altered through modifications to the scrum engagement process which control the engagement velocity. As the set scrum is a relatively 'controlled' contact situation within rugby union, it remains an important area for intervention with a long-term goal of injury reduction.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 83%

Injury and biomechanical perspectives on the rugby scrum: a review of the literature

et al. 2014

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“…For further comparison, the annual average incidence of non-fatal permanent ASCIs (excluding near misses and fatalities) for the present study was 0.92 per 100 000 players (95% CI 0.18 to 1.66), which is significantly lower than the rate reported for comparable outcomes (ASIA scale A–D, excluding fatalities) in Australia between 1995 and 2003 (6.8 per 100 000 players, 95% CI 4.0 to 10.7),28 but comparable to France before (2.1 per 100 000 players, per year) and after the introduction of modified laws and guidelines for the scrum (1.4 per 100 000 players, per year).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 71%

The incidence of rugby-related catastrophic injuries (including cardiac events) in South Africa from 2008 to 2011: a cohort study

et al. 2013

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ObjectivesTo establish an accurate and comprehensive injury incidence registry of all rugby union-related catastrophic events in South Africa between 2008 and 2011. An additional aim was to investigate correlates associated with these injuries.DesignProspective.SettingThe South African amateur and professional rugby-playing population.ParticipantsAn estimated 529 483 Junior and 121 663 Senior rugby union (‘rugby’) players (population at risk).Outcome measuresAnnual average incidences of rugby-related catastrophic injuries by type (cardiac events, traumatic brain and acute spinal cord injuries (ASCIs)) and outcome (full recoveries—fatalities). Playing level (junior and senior levels), position and event (phase of play) were also assessed.ResultsThe average annual incidence of ASCIs and Traumatic Brain Injuries combined was 2.00 per 100 000 players (95% CI 0.91 to 3.08) from 2008 to 2011. The incidence of ASCIs with permanent outcomes was significantly higher at the Senior level (4.52 per 100 000 players, 95% CI 0.74 to 8.30) than the Junior level (0.24 per 100 000 players, 95% CI 0 to 0.65) during this period. The hooker position was associated with 46% (n=12 of 26) of all permanent ASCI outcomes, the majority of which (83%) occurred during the scrum phase of play.ConclusionsThe incidence of rugby-related catastrophic injuries in South Africa between 2008 and 2011 is comparable to that of other countries and to most other collision sports. The higher incidence rate of permanent ASCIs at the Senior level could be related to the different law variations or characteristics (eg, less regular training) compared with the Junior level. The hooker and scrum were associated with high proportions of permanent ASCIs. The BokSmart injury prevention programme should focus efforts on these areas (Senior level, hooker and scrum) and use this study as a reference point for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the programme.

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“…For every debilitating spinal cord injury there may be as many as ten near misses[2,3]. Long term health implications, such as acquired degenerative change, have been reported from repetitive traumatic forces to the neck in RU [4,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incidence, severity, aetiology and type of neck injury in men's amateur rugby union: a prospective cohort study

2010

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BackgroundThere is a paucity of epidemiological data on neck injury in amateur rugby union populations. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, severity, aetiology and type of neck injury in Australian men's amateur rugby union.MethodsData was collected from a cohort of 262 participants from two Australian amateur men's rugby union clubs via a prospective cohort study design. A modified version of the Rugby Union Injury Report Form for Games and Training was used by the clubs physiotherapist or chiropractor in data collection.ResultsThe participants sustained 90 (eight recurrent) neck injuries. Exposure time was calculated at 31143.8 hours of play (12863.8 hours of match time and 18280 hours of training). Incidence of neck injury was 2.9 injuries/1000 player-hours (95%CI: 2.3, 3.6). As a consequence 69.3% neck injuries were minor, 17% mild, 6.8% moderate and 6.8% severe. Neck compression was the most frequent aetiology and was weakly associated with severity. Cervical facet injury was the most frequent neck injury type.ConclusionsThis is the first prospective cohort study in an amateur men's rugby union population since the inception of professionalism that presents injury rate, severity, aetiology and injury type data for neck injury. Current epidemiological data should be sought when evaluating the risks associated with rugby union football.

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Cervical spinal cord injury in rugby union and rugby league: are incidence rates declining in NSW?

Cited by 28 publications

References 17 publications

Injury and biomechanical perspectives on the rugby scrum: a review of the literature

Injury and biomechanical perspectives on the rugby scrum: a review of the literature

The incidence of rugby-related catastrophic injuries (including cardiac events) in South Africa from 2008 to 2011: a cohort study

Incidence, severity, aetiology and type of neck injury in men's amateur rugby union: a prospective cohort study

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