Objective To investigate the pre-operative incidence of deep venous thrombosis(DVT) and its risk factors in the senile patients with hip fracture. Methods Clinical data of 386 consecutive senile patients suffering from hip fracture admitted in our hospital from March 2008 to November 2012 were collected in this study, and retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into DVT group and non-DVT group according to the results of lower extremity venous ultrasonography before operation. Risk factors, such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, liver disease, kidney disease, rheumatism and dementia were analyzed and compared between the 2 groups. Results There were 34 patients(8.8%) diagnosed as being accompanied with DVT before operation, including 20 of unilateral calf vein embolism(58.82%), 5 of bilateral calf vein embolism (14.71%), 4 of popliteal vein embolism(11.76%), 2 of femoral vein embolism(5.88%), 2 of peroneal vein embolism(5.88%) and 1 of posterior tibial vein embolism(2.94%). Three patients died of pulmonary embolism before operation. BMI ≥30.0kg/m2, history of rheumatism, and ≥3 comorbidities were independent risk factors of pre-operative incidence of DVT in the elderly with hip fracture(P＜0.05). Conclusion Pre-operative incidence of DVT is rather high in the senile patients with hip fracture. For those with BMI ≥30.0kg/m2, history of rheumatism, and ≥3 comorbidities, clinicians should assess the risk of embolism, and take preventive measures prevent actively to reduce the incidence of DVT.