Sport head injuries: New guidelines

Kieran Reid charges through the Springboks in September. The player has been back playing with the All Balcks after concussion problems. Photo / Darren Taumata

ACC has released a concussion guideline for sports organisations following high numbers of head injuries as a direct result of sport related activity.

Under the guidelines players in all sporting coders who suffer a suspected concussion will be expected to leave the field of play immediately and seek urgent medical assessment.

The guidelines, which are based on the 2012 Zurich Consensus Statement on Concussion, also suggest:

• Extra caution should be used when dealing with children and adolescents

• No return to play on the day of the injury under any circumstances

• Assessments must be undertaken by medical doctors

Much of what is contained in the guidelines is already common place in sports such as rugby and league.

About 7350 such injuries are recorded each year and in the last four years sports related concussion claims cost ACC $76 million, the corporation said.

"It's not just the financial cost but the decline in general health and quality of life for the injured person for up to 10 years following the injury, or, maybe for the rest of their lives," said Dr Peter Robinson, ACC chief clinical advisor.

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ACC worked with New Zealand Rugby, New Zealand Rugby League, New Zealand Netball and New Zealand Football and the AUT University Sports Performance Research Institute to develop the guidelines.

"We all agreed something had to be done and that a national guideline would be a starting point," said Dr Robinson.

The guidelines will set out what to do, how to recognise the signs and symptoms, what action to take and how sports organisation can develop a concussion policy and implementation plan.

Dr Robinson said ACC also had an expert panel available to assist organisations and review their policies, plans and educational material.