Key result
Video review shows 50% of head impacts receive on-pitch medical assessment.
Observational (n=88)
On-pitch medical assessments for head impacts during the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 were frequent but brief (<1 min), suggesting a need for further evaluation and standardization of injury spotters.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Brief assessments after head impacts may miss concussions; leaves open need for standardized spotter protocols in football.
. Six defined video signs of potential concussion based on an international consensus were used. A total of 88 head impacts were observed, with a median of 2 (IQR 1.5-4, range 0-7) head impacts per match, of which 44 (50%) resulted in on-pitch medical assessment. The median assessment duration was 51s (IQR 34-65s, range 19-262s). The most common mechanism was head-to-head contact (27% of all impacts and 43% of impacts with medical assessment). Seven head impacts showed video signs of potential concussion: six had one sign and one had two signs. The concussion substitution was used in three incidents. Head impacts during the FIFA Arab Cup were common and a median of 1 head impact per game required an on-pitch medical assessment. Only 8% of the head impacts showed any video sign of potential concussion, and only 3% resulted in a concussion substitution. The medical on-pitch assessments appeared too short (<1 min) to allow an appropriate assessment of all head impacts, indicating a need for further evaluation. Further standardisation of the injury spotter's role in football is recommended.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Serner et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Head impacts and potential concussion (n=88). Video review was evaluated on Frequency and assessment of head impacts. Video review of the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 identified 88 head impacts, of which 50% received on-pitch medical assessments (median 51 seconds) and 8% showed video signs of potential concussion.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: