Rugby union should ban contested scrums

doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7552.1281

BMJ 2006;332:1281 (27 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7552.1281

reviews

Personal views

Rugby union should ban contested scrums

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

For 30 years I have been an honorary medical officer to NottinghamRugby Football Club. In this time I have attended about 25 gamesa season and on many occasions have been the "duty doctor,"either officially or unofficially. In that time four playershave been removed from the field of play at Nottingham withserious neck injuries. Three of the injuries were associatedwith scrums, and one occurred in a tackle. All four playershad initial sensory and motor impairment. Two recovered withinminutes or hours; one recovered in days; and one became paraplegic.Three needed an operation for fracture. Another three Nottinghamplayers injured their necks in scrums while playing away fromhome and needed to be removed from the pitch. One player neededan operation and is paraplegic. Therefore I have experienceof seven serious spinal cord injuries, five of which have requiredan operation. Two . . . [Full text of this article]

James B Bourke, consultant general surgeon

University Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham jandabourke20vc@aol.com

CiteULike

Complore

Connotea

Del.icio.us Add to Digg

Digg

StumbleUpon Add to Technorati

Technorati What's this?

Relevant Articles

Effect of nationwide injury prevention programme on serious spinal injuries in New Zealand rugby union: ecological study: Kenneth L Quarrie, Simon M Gianotti, Will G Hopkins, and Patria A Hume
BMJ 2007 334: 1150. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Rugby union should ban contested scrums: Scrums are contested in junior rugby: Dylan M Wilson
BMJ 2006 332: 1391. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Rugby union should ban contested scrums: Technique is important: Robert W Standfield
BMJ 2006 332: 1391. [Extract] [Full Text]

Rugby union should ban contested scrums: Reality check is needed: Malcolm Cameron
BMJ 2006 332: 1391. [Extract] [Full Text]

Rugby union should ban contested scrums: Engage, don't ban: John J Macfarlane
BMJ 2006 332: 1391-1392. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

Quarrie, K. L, Gianotti, S. M, Hopkins, W. G, Hume, P. A (2007). Effect of nationwide injury prevention programme on serious spinal injuries in New Zealand rugby union: ecological study. BMJ 334: 1150-1150 [Abstract] [Full text]
Wilson, D. M (2006). Rugby union should ban contested scrums: Scrums are contested in junior rugby.. BMJ 332: 1391-1391 [Full text]
Standfield, R. W (2006). Rugby union should ban contested scrums: Technique is important.. BMJ 332: 1391-1391 [Full text]
Cameron, M. (2006). Rugby union should ban contested scrums: Reality check is needed.. BMJ 332: 1391-1391 [Full text]
Macfarlane, J. J (2006). Rugby union should ban contested scrums: Engage, don't ban.. BMJ 332: 1391-1392 [Full text]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Junior Rugby - Scrums ARE contested: Dylan M Wilson
bmj.com, 25 May 2006 [Full text]
Personal experience: Robert W Standfield
bmj.com, 26 May 2006 [Full text]
Is the scrum really the area of greatest danger?: Roy A Farrant
bmj.com, 26 May 2006 [Full text]
Re: Junior Rugby - Scrums ARE contested: Richard A R Cantelo
bmj.com, 26 May 2006 [Full text]
A sense of perspective is required: Mark R Savage
bmj.com, 26 May 2006 [Full text]
What is the risk of NOT having scrums?: Matthew L Howse
bmj.com, 26 May 2006 [Full text]
Engagement or Contest ?: Michael A McDowall
bmj.com, 26 May 2006 [Full text]
Stop scrummaging - reality check needed!: Malcolm Cameron
bmj.com, 26 May 2006 [Full text]
Players are aware of the risks they take: Christopher T P Hurrell
bmj.com, 27 May 2006 [Full text]
Safety paramount: Chris J Pickering
bmj.com, 27 May 2006 [Full text]
So ... Rugby Union is now a 'dangerous sport'?: Tim Wilbraham
bmj.com, 27 May 2006 [Full text]
Contested Scrum, Not the Greatest Risk to Cervical Spine Injury: Alan T Rankin
bmj.com, 27 May 2006 [Full text]
Engage not ban: John J Macfarlane
bmj.com, 27 May 2006 [Full text]
To Push or not to Push- how do I Collapse Thee: Simon C West
bmj.com, 28 May 2006 [Full text]
Re. Rugby Union Should Ban Contested Scrums BMJ 27th May 2006 page 1281: I. Luc Evans
bmj.com, 28 May 2006 [Full text]
Rugby union should not ban contested scrums: David M Bunting
bmj.com, 30 May 2006 [Full text]
Consider the evidence: Philip H Brown
bmj.com, 31 May 2006 [Full text]
Tackle not scrum.: Jonathan R Hanson
bmj.com, 31 May 2006 [Full text]
Rules of Engagement: Ian Verber
bmj.com, 1 Jun 2006 [Full text]
S.O.S - Save our scrums: DAVID G SAMUEL
bmj.com, 2 Jun 2006 [Full text]
Banning of Scrums? Whatever next?!: Robert J Macdonald
bmj.com, 2 Jun 2006 [Full text]
Rugby union and contested scrums: Edward Grayson
bmj.com, 5 Jun 2006 [Full text]
Lack of perspective: Abdul Zubairu
bmj.com, 6 Jun 2006 [Full text]
Spinal Cord Injuries and the Scrum in Rugby Union: Gordon J. McArthur
bmj.com, 7 Jun 2006 [Full text]
No evidence to ban contested rugby scrums.: Paul d Hamilton, et al.
bmj.com, 10 Jun 2006 [Full text]