Fourteen patients with chronic renal failure and secondary hyperparathyroidism were treated by subtotal parathyroidectomy. Bone pain and hypercalcemia were the main indications to surgery respectively in 13 and 1 patients. Bone pain disappeared or was significantly reduced in 12/14 patients. Two patients had a persistent hyperparathyroidism. Serum alkaline phosphatase returned to normal in 12 patients and PTH in 11 of 12 patients with pretreatment high levels.