Orthopaedic geriatric care has become widely accepted despite relatively little formal evaluation. In the East Dorset health authority all patients with fractured neck of femur initially share common orthopaedic facilities but only those from one geographical sector have subsequent access to an orthopaedic geriatric unit, patients from the other sector receiving standard care. We have carried out a prospective population-based comparison of the outcome of 155 consecutive incident cases of fractured neck of femur aged over 65 years. On admission to hospital the two populations were similar in respect of age, sex, fracture type, social status, medical and orthopaedic problems, mental status and dependency (Clifton assessment procedure for the elderly). Multiple regression analysis showed that the mean length of stay was 9.5 days shorter in patients from the sector with access to orthopaedic geriatric care (p less than 0.05, 95% confidence interval 0.6 to 18.4 days). This reduction was not due to any difference between the two groups as regards dependency or the level of support provided on discharge. There was no difference in outcome at 6 months post-operatively in terms of mortality, functional outcome (pain and mobility), change in dependency or social status. We conclude that in the East Dorset health authority this combined approach has resulted in a significant reduction in the length of inpatient stay without any other apparent effect on patient outcome.