OP 4 ARE ALL EVENT MEDICAL COVERAGE SERVICES EQUAL'? A CASE SERIES FROM A FRIENDLY GAME OF RUGBY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Event medical coverage is an integral part of pre-hospital care medicine and is increasingly used by event organisers to mitigate risk of high risk events such as contact sports and mass gatherings. Rugby is a collision sport played by amateurs and professionals. The game is physically demanding and results in a high incidence of injury, reportedly up to 497.6 events per 1000 playing hours.

CASE SERIES

We report on an event medical coverage for a rugby tournament which pitted 13 teams against each other with a total of 192 players, 46 team staff and 15 referees. During the 2-day event, there were a total of 26 players requiring medical attention. 2 required hospital referrals. The overall incidence of injury was 302.94 per 1000 playing hours. Two players who were originally discharged by the medical team subsequently presented to the hospital with deterioration of their condition. Patient 1 was a 15-year-old girl who sustained a fall and landed on her left temporal region after being tackled by 3 opponents. She presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with multiple seizures. She was diagnosed to have a subdural hematoma and was subsequently discharged well without any surgery performed. Patient 2 was a 16-year-old girl who sustained a fall after being pushed by her opponent while she was in the locks position. She landed on her buttocks with her legs extended. She also presented to the medical team who discharged her after a through examination. However, the patient presented to ED 3 days later with worsening lower back pain. She was diagnosed to have a compression fracture of L1 with extension to the right pedicle needing surgery.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The incidence of injury is comparable to international tournaments and medical standby teams should be deployed to these events to mitigate risk of injuries.

KEY WORDS

Event medical coverage, rugby, prehospital care