Introduction:The aim of this open prospective cohort study was to determine if a prolonged pre-operative hospital stay is a true predictor of higher morbidity or mortality in geriatric patients with hip fractures.Materials and methods:We analysed early outcome parameters, such as functional independence measure (FIM), at discharge and four months post-operatively, peri-operative nonsurgical complications, intra-hospital and one year mortality compared with prolonged pre-operative hospital stay in 308 patients from a continuous cohort of 344.Results:Average pre-operative stay was 8.39 ± 5.80 days. Delaying surgery for > 72 hours was independently predictive for general complications and lower motor FIM gain at four months. All findings worsen progressively after the fifth day of delay. Pre-operative period was not found to be an independent predictor of mortality.Conclusion:In all observed outcome parameters except mortality, pre-operative delay > 72 hours was shown to be a true predictive factor.