Aims: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the functional recovery and mortality after the sequential fracture of both hips in elderly patients. Methods: Eight hundred forty-two patients (over 64 years of age) with hip fractures (nonpathologic) consecutively admitted to our hospital between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2001, were included in this prospective study. A total of 765 were admitted of their þrst hip fracture, and the other 77 patients had a second contralateral fracture. All patients were identiþed at the time of admission, had fracture treatment and were followed untill six months or death. Information of complications and postinjury function was collected. Differences between the two groups were explored in contingency tables. Results: Most recurrent hip fractures (90%) are the same pattern the þrst contralateral fracture was. Functional recovery, postoperative complications and the length of stay of the patients affected by recurrent fracture were similar to the ones of the patients suffering from a single fracture. Hemoglobin level at admittance was 13 g/dl (mean) for single group and 12 g/dl (mean) for recurrent group; blood transfusion was needed for 30% from the single group and 50% from the recurrent group. Six months mortality was 17% for recurrent group and 28% for single group (p=0.033). Conclusions: Our data suggest that the functional recovery in elderly patients with hip fractures is not inßuenced by a previous fracture of the contralateral hip. Lower mortality after recurrent hip fracture shows us older patients and those with more concomitant diseases died before suffering the second fracture.