Childhood Bone Tumours Seen at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu

Abstract

Objective: To study the pattern of bone tumours seen in children aged 0 – 14 years presenting at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu from January 1982 to December 1991.


Method: A retrospective study.


Results: A total of 51 children aged 2-15 years presented with bone tumours out of a total of 2,216 children aged 0-15 years who presented to the hospital during the period under study. 27 were males while 24 were females giving a male: female ratio of 1.1:1. 60.8% of the patients were between 11 and 15 years of age. 68.6% of the tumours were benign while the rest were malignant. The commonest benign tumour was Osteochondroma (27.5% of all bone tumours) while the commonest malignant tumour was osteosarcoma (21.6% of all bone tumours).


Conclusions: Bone tumours are relatively rare in children. The commonest benign bone tumour in children is osteochondroma while the commonest malignant bone tumour in children is osteosarcoma. Ewing's Sarcoma occurs in Nigerian children.


Key Words: Bone Tumour, Children


Jnl of Medical Investigation and Practice Vol.1 2000: 49-51