Piriformis muscle syndrome in 19 patients treated by tenotomy--a 1- to 16-year follow-up study.

We treated 19 patients with piriformis muscle syndrome. All patients complained of pain in the buttocks and the posterior thigh. Clinically the buttock was tender and passive stretching increased the pain. In ten patients skin sensation was reduced and three had a limp. All patients were treated with tenotomy. At follow-up after an average of 8 (1-16) years, eight patients had pain relief. Two-thirds of the patients evaluated their clinical state as being better.