A microcomputer was used for patient record management and statistical analysis to study prospectively an elderly female population with femoral neck fracture. Of 150 patients studied, 58% presented with a cervical fracture and 42% with a trochanteric fracture. The patients with trochanteric fracture were significantly older than the patients with cervical fracture (P < 0.001), required a longer stay in hospital (P<0.01) and returned to their previous environment less frequently. The proportion of trochanteric fractures increased with age. In view of the ageing population and the rising incidence of femoral neck fracture, these findings have important implications for the future allocation of hospital resources.