A randomized block design was used to compare the Singh index

the cortical index of the femoral neck and the lateral cortical width of the femur of a group of patients with femoral neck fracture

a group with intertrochanteric fracture

and a normal control group among a total of 102 postmenopausal women.The three indices in fracture group were very significantly （P<0.01） or significantly （P<0.05） different from those in the normal control subjects. The importance of osteoporosis in hip fracture of the aged is con firmed. Radiographic measurement of bone mass was found to have some predictive value for the risk of hip fracture.