Sean Ingle is right to mention the benefits of rugby but, as he suggests, there is a balance to be found in weighing up the associated risks of contact sport to a developing brain (Should U18 rugby be banned? No. But tell that to parents of a concussed child, 5 February).
Concussions in the adolescent age group present a unique challenge, particularly given the wide-ranging nature and duration of symptoms. Interestingly, those seen in our complex case clinics often demonstrate a significant psychological involvement in their prolonged concussion symptoms, in many cases stemming from concerns about long-term cognitive impairment. In spite of this, we cannot shy away from the issue with young people and their parents; we must be honest about what we know about the risks of single or repeated concussions, and what we do not yet know.
