Shuttleworth-Edwards Ann B, Noakes Timothy D, Radloff Sarah E, Whitefield Victoria J, Clark Susan B, Roberts Craig O, Essack Fathima B, Zoccola Diana, Boulind Melissa J, Case Stephanie E, Smith Ian P, Mitchell Julia L G
Department of Psychology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
Clin J Sport Med. 2008 Sep;18(5):403-9. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0b013e3181895910.
The objective of this study was to compare the seasonal concussion incidence for school, university, club and provincial level Rugby Union players in South Africa.
The study presents a retrospective statistical analysis of the number of reported concussions documented annually for groups of Rugby Union players as a proportion of those who received preseason neurocognitive assessment.
Between 2002 and 2006, concussion management programs using computerized neuropsychological assessment were implemented for clinical and research purposes by psychologists in selected South African institutions involved in Rugby Union from school through to the professional level.
The incidence figures were based on 175 concussive episodes reported for 165 athletes who were referred for neurocognitive assessment from a population of 1366 athletes who received preseason baseline testing.
Concussion management routines varied according to the protocols adopted by the different psychologists and rugby organizations.
It was expected that the incidence of concussion would vary significantly due to level of play and different management protocols.
There was wide disparity in the manner in which concussion follow-up was managed by the various organizations. Within broadly comparable cohorts, tighter control was associated with a relatively higher concussion incidence for athletes per rugby playing season, with average institutional figures ranging from 4% to 14% at school level and 3% to 23% at adult level.
This analysis suggests that concussion goes unrecognized and therefore incorrectly managed in a number of instances. Recommendations for optimal identification of concussed athletes for follow-up management are presented.
本研究的目的是比较南非学校、大学、俱乐部和省级橄榄球联盟球员的季节性脑震荡发生率。
本研究对每年报告的橄榄球联盟球员脑震荡数量进行回顾性统计分析，以接受季前神经认知评估的球员数量为比例。
2002年至2006年期间，南非一些从学校到职业水平参与橄榄球联盟的机构的心理学家，为临床和研究目的实施了使用计算机化神经心理评估的脑震荡管理项目。
发生率数据基于1366名接受季前基线测试的运动员中，165名被转介进行神经认知评估的运动员报告的175次脑震荡事件。
脑震荡管理程序根据不同心理学家和橄榄球组织采用的方案而有所不同。
预计脑震荡发生率会因比赛水平和不同管理方案而有显著差异。
各组织在脑震荡后续管理方式上存在很大差异。在大致可比的队列中，更严格的控制与每个橄榄球赛季运动员相对较高的脑震荡发生率相关，学校层面机构平均数字为4%至14%，成人层面为3%至23%。
该分析表明，在许多情况下，脑震荡未被识别，因此管理不当。本文提出了对脑震荡运动员进行最佳识别以便后续管理的建议。
