1. Ten cases in which a muscle-release operation was performed for the relief of pain in the hip are reported. Minimum follow-up was two years.
2. Satisfactory relief of pain was obtained in nine of ten patients.
3. In one patient with bilateral idiopathic avascular necrosis the operation failed.
4. In the majority of cases contractures were relieved and range of active motion was increased. Musculotendinous release did not weaken the limb permanently. We consider our results gratifying.