OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical effect of total hip joint replacement and hemiarthroplasty in treatment of fracture of femoral neck in old patients. METHODS One hundred and ten cases with femoral neck fracture in the aged, 70 to 106 years old, from Aug 1990 to Aug 1999 were reviewed, 96 cases were followed up, among which 52 cases received total hip joints replacement and the other 44 cases received hemiarthroplasty. All of the 96 cases were followed up for 15 to 112 months, averaged 51 months, and were evaluated in operation procedures, post-operative recovery and joint function according to Harris Scoring. RESULTS The operation time of total hip joints replacement was 20 minutes longer, bleeding volume was 120 ml larger, and post-operative drainage was 140 ml more, in average, than those in hemiarthroplasty. There was no obvious difference between the two types of operation in bed-resting time, length of stay and hospitalizing costs. According to Harris Scoring, there were 38 cases of excellent in hemiarthroplasty (86.4%) and 48 cases of excellent in total hip joints replacement (92.3%). CONCLUSION Both of the artificial joint replacements are reasonable choices for treatment of fracture of femoral neck in old patients, but total hip joints replacement is recommendable for those comparatively younger patients with good systematic status, and hemiarthroplasty is a good option for those elderly with some systematic diseases.