The blood transfusion requirements of a consecutive series of 249 unselected patients with femoral neck fracture were studied retrospectively. A total of 339 Units of blood were transfused (a mean of 1.36 Units per patient). Blood transfusion occurred in 132 patients (53.0%), with each receiving a mean of 2.57 Units. Patients aged 80 years and above as a group were transfused significantly more blood than those aged less than 80 years: 1.64 vs 0.94 Units, X2 = 12.09, p < 0.001. Patients with intertrochanteric fractures were transfused significantly more blood than those with intracapsular fractures (1.74 vs 1.00 Units: X2 = 13.4, p < 0.001).