In England each year over 65,000 people fracture their hip. Most of these patients are elderly females with the fracture occurring after a simple trip or stumble. Approximately half of these fractures are classified from their relationship to the hip joint capsule as extracapsular. The majority of these fractures are treated surgically by internal fixation using, either a plate and screws (sliding hip screw) or nail and screws (intramedullary nail).