Objectives: Injury is a major cause of morbidity in children, but can be prevented if at-risk groups are identified and proper precautions taken. Our study aims to identify the patterns of paediatric fractures in terms of at-risk bone, age, type of fracture, seasonal variations and attempts to look at the role of prevention.

Methods: Retrospective study of the children with fractures presented to A& E and admitted to the paediatric ward at the University Hospital of Hartlepool during August 2004 to August 2005. As used elsewhere we categorised data into injury types.

Results: From the total of 1067 children reviewed,564 were boys and 503, girls. Age incidence-highest in the group of 10–14 years (462), with highest presentation in April, May, June months. Of all orthopaedic injuries, 918 were closed fractures, 38 – open fractures, 40 – dislocations, 71- joint injuries. Upper limb (797) were much common than lower limb fractures (270), with wrist being the commonest site (209). Amongst the 198 admissions, 153 had upper limb and 45 lower limb fractures, with forearm being commonest (117) of whom 51 required surgery. In-patient bed-days occupied were 336.

Discussion: Information about the patterns of injuries in children is important in planning injury prevention. Incidence of paediatric injuries can be reduced with public education, implementation of safety strategies and government legislation. Orthopaedists can be instrumental in reducing incidence of paediatric injuries by participating in patient education, research, and programs that promote safe play.

Twenty-three patients with scapular chondrosarcomas presented to our institution between 1989 and 2003. Twenty-two were treated surgically while one presented with metastases and was treated palliatively. Fourteen patients underwent partial scapulectomy and eight had a Tikhoff-Linberg procedure. There were no local recurrences and only two patients have suffered a systemic recurrence at mean follow-up of fifty-two months. Mean functional scores were: TESS – 88, MSTS 1987 – 27 and MSTS 1993 – 84. Overall, the oncologic and functional outcome for these patients was excellent.

To examine the oncologic and functional outcome of patients treated for chondrosarcoma of the scapula.

Rates of local recurrence and metastasis for adequately treated chondrosarcomas of the scapula were very low and patient function was quite good.

Unlike previous reports in the literature, we found that scapular chondrosarcomas are highly amenable to limb salvage surgery and the oncologic and functional outcomes are excellent.

Retrospective review of our prospectively collected database for all patients treated surgically at our institution for scapular chondrosarcoma between 1989 and 2003.

Twenty-three patients presented with scapular chondrosarcoma, but one had spine metastases and was treated palliatively. Thus twenty-two patients were treated with limb salvage surgery. There were fourteen males and eight females. One patient presented as a local recurrence. Four tumors were grade one, sixteen grade two and two grade three. Eight were secondary to a primary benign primary tumor of bone. There were fourteen partial scapulectomies and eight Tikhoff-Linberg procedures. Surgical margins were positive in three cases. two patients received post-operative radiation and no patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. At last follow-up, twenty patients were alive with no evidence of disease (90.9%), one was alive with disease and one was dead of disease. There were two systemic recurrences and no local recurrences at an average follow-up of fifty-two months (range 12–113). Mean functional scores were: TESS – 88, MSTS – 1987 27 and MSTS 1993 – 84.