The authors present their own experience with the use of a standard and long gamma-nail, indications for surgery and advantages of its use. They draw attention to some imortant steps of the surgical technique. During the period from May 1995 to December 1996 they evaluated a group of eight patients, mean age 56 years (18-89 years), with an unstable pretrochanteric fracture fixed by a standard nail and a group of seven patients, mean age 42.2 years (21 - 72 years), with a complicated fracture of the proximal femur and diaphysis fixed by a long gamma-nail. Of fifteen operated patients eleven evaluated the result as excellent, two as good and one as poor. One female patient was not mobilized because of medical complications. Key words: gamma-nail, long gamma-nail, fractures of the proximal femur.