The objectives of this study are to ascertain primary caregivers' understanding of risks associated with home trampoline use; to educate caregivers in regard to documented literature based risks associated with home trampoline use; and to evaluate if this information will have any influence on their future regulation of home trampoline use for their children.

One hundred primary caregivers of patients treated in the paediatric orthopaedic surgery outpatient clinic at London Health Sciences centre were surveyed. All caregivers in clinic were invited to participate. The only exclusion criteria was the inability to provide consent. Caregivers' baseline perceptions on the risks associated with home trampoline use were assessed using a questionnaire. Caregivers then received an information pamphlet outlining documented trampoline safety data. They were then sent the same questionnaire to complete within one week of reading the pamphlet. Using our research electronic database capture (Redcap), the results of the surveys were compiled and analysed using spss 22, paired t-test and repeated measures anova. A sample size of 55 was calculated to result in a power of 80%.

Of primary caregivers surveyed, 36% owned a home trampoline, and only 5% had personal experiences with their child sustaining a trampoline injury. Pre-education, when caregivers were asked on a scale of one (not dangerous) to 10 (very dangerous) how dangerous they felt a trampoline was for their child, the average response was six. Post-education, this number changed to eight. Providing education to primary caregivers significantly changed their perceptions on all sections of the questionnaire, yet 47% of primary caregivers were willing to allow their child to use a trampoline at home despite their new understanding of trampoline injury and safety.

Providing education to primary caregivers significantly changed their perceptions on all trampoline safety questions, indicating effective comprehension. Despite caregivers' understanding of the risks associated with home trampoline use, approximately half of the study population continue to permit this activity for their children. There is potential to reduce paediatric orthopaedic injuries associated with home trampoline use if safer trampoline related practices are implemented based on information provided.

Purpose: Femur fractures in children have a significant impact on families and the hospital system in Canada. There are several methods for treating femur fractures in children. The purpose of this study was to determine which of two techniques: Flexible Femoral Nailing (FFN) or Trochanteric Antegrade Nail (TAN), are the most safe and efficacious.

Method: Hospital charts for all paediatric femur fracture patients between 1984 and 2006 treated with either FFN or TAN were reviewed. Demographic, clinical, radiographic and hospital stay data were collected and analyzed.

Results: Ninety-seven children (100 fractures) were reviewed. The average age of patients was 11.9 years (SD = 4.4). Fifty-two fractures were treated with FFN and 48 fractures were treated with TAN. No serious complications were encountered in either group, including AVN. Minor complications in the FFN group included three patients with mal-alignment, and one with shortening of the limb. Two patients in the TAN group had shortening of the fractured limb. No radiographic differences were noted. The median length of stay for patients treated with FFN was 3 days (IQR = 2) and for patients treated with TAN was 3 days (IQR = 2). Overall, there were no significant differences in the clinical findings (including complications), radiographic evaluations, or length of stay between FFN and TAN cohorts. The only significant difference between the groups was length of surgical time (p value < 0.001).

Conclusion: TAN is as safe and efficacious a treatment as FFN but requires addition operating room time, and hence hospital resources.