One hundred and seventy trochanteric fractures of the femur treated by operative fixation are reviewed. The results of treatment are disappointing. The complication rate is high. The mortality rate should be assessed at 6 months after the fracture. From these results, it would appear that operative treatment does not offer the patient with a trochanteric fracture of the femur less morbidity, a lowered mortality rate or even a better result, when compared with operative treatment 25 years ago, or when compared with a recent review of conservative treatment from Inverness.