Venous ulceration: factors influencing recurrence after standard surgical procedures

Ninety patients with chronic venous ulceration were investigated to determine the extent of the incompetence of the venous valves. They were then treated by established surgical methods to control reflux. All wore fitted compression stockings and were regularly followed up. Forty-two patients had valvular incompetence confined to the perforating and superficial veins. All their ulcers healed and only one developed a minor recurrence during the three year follow-up. Nineteen patients had additional but limited incompetence of the deep veins; all their ulcers healed, but three developed a recurrence. Twenty-nine patients had extensive deep vein valvular incompetence including incompetence of the popliteal valve; in 12 of these patients either the ulcer failed to heal or the patient developed a recurrent ulcer within 18 months. Thirty-two other patients developed further venous reflux from the opening of new channels, including the perforating veins of the foot, and required sclerosants or local ligation. It was concluded that established surgical techniques, thoroughly performed, were very effective for the treatment of chronic venous ulceration provided the popliteal valves were competent. When the popliteal valves were incompetent the recurrence rate was unacceptably high and additional methods, including vein valve transplants, excision of the ulcer with skin grafting and lumbar sympathectomy, were considered. Nine of 11 patients who received a vein valve transplant had falls in their ambulant venous pressures, improvement in the nutrition of their skin and healing of their recurrent ulcers.