Rugby needs to open eyes over issue of concussion
Officials must listen to concerns
Saturday 3 auguSt 2013 underwent 16 operations, suffered over ten serious concussions and broke several bones through putting his body in the line – one glance at his medical records explains why.
A torn adductor at 18 led to two years of painful groin and pelvis issues that baffled doctors. Then, after insisting there was nothing to stop him playing, they diagnosed ‘Gilmore’s Groin’ and hernias, and told him his treatment had been flawed.
There followed good years injury-free and excellent quality of treatment for injuries, but also instances of playing with injury to impress a coach, as all players do, and ripped muscles, torn ligaments and broken bones that worsened because he tried to play through them, hid them or was told he was imagining them.
He trusted medics, he says, and praises Dr James Robson especially, but grew to trust himself more, and the point of his article was not to attack medics, as the SRU have taken it, as sports medicine is notoriously difficult, but to highlight the imprecise nature of it and urge players to stop and think before pushing through injuries, most notably concussion. A rugbyplaying neuropathologist told him this week he was right to fear neurological issues later in life, and told me this is an issue that requires everyone in the game to open eyes to if players, far bigger, stronger, fitter and faster than their skeletons were created for, are to be protected.
The IRB said: “Lamont raises some very interesting points which highlight the need for everyone to pull together to ensure that players are appropriately educated about the risks.”
They defended the controversial Pitch Side Concussion Assessment (PSCA) with the oft-repeated statistic that it has led to a 25 per cent increase in the removal of players with concussion. Yet, within that is an admittance there were and remain players on the field with concussion. How many? In New Zealand, Dr Doug King witnessed the death
rory of a club player in 1998 and ever since has been researching and leading advancements in concussion. He recently introduced gumshields that record data of head hits, revealing that, in the worst cases, players can sustain up to four times the strength of head knocks associated with car crashes.
He also brought in the KingDevick concussion test – the King behind that is no relation – in booklet form which players read after a game and quickly shows up concussion. It has proved effective in revealing concussion when medics and players did not realise a ‘knock’ had actually left some damage.
Justin Wilson, coach of the Hutt Old Boys Marists, where the tests are taking place, said: “If you get a corked thigh [dead leg] it’s repairable, but we’re talking about guy’s heads. Doug has shown the club documentaries and what head injuries can do for the rest of your life and it’s really had an impact. This tech- nology doesn’t give us an advantage over other teams, but it does in looking after our players.”
Eminently sensible, but the more evidence he finds the less enthusiastic the rugby authorities are to work with him. That is not uncommon in rugby, but, ironically, the SRU, through its medical chief Dr Robson, are doing more for players in leading the campaign to have concussion taken more seriously. Dr Robson does not, though, have influence over the defensive reaction of union officials. We and Lamont are still awaiting any invitation to discuss his concerns.
The IRB added: “The message remains the same to all in the game: if the player is clearly displaying concussion symptoms, sit him or her out. Don’t return.”
That is a crucial bottom line, but more evidence and education is required in what is a growing problem for rugby, and, in the interests of players, rugby’s officials have a duty to listen and embrace more openness.