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Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Occlusion of the Great and Small Saphenous Vein Using Copolymeric Glue Based on N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate and Methacryloxy Sulfolane
Published on: December 9, 2022
Injection-related venous disease and walking mobility
Barbara Pieper1, Thomas N Templin, Robert S Kirsner
1College of Nursing, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. bpieper@wayne.edu
Leg injection drug use is strongly linked to chronic venous disease (CVD), impacting walking mobility. Pain resulting from CVD also negatively affects mobility in individuals undergoing methadone treatment.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Medicine
- Public Health
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Injection drug use poses significant risks for vascular complications, including chronic venous disease (CVD).
- Assessing the impact of CVD on functional outcomes like mobility is crucial for this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between leg injection, chronic venous disease (CVD), and walking mobility in individuals receiving methadone treatment.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional, comparative study design.
- Stratified sampling based on age, sex, ethnicity, and drug use.
- Structural equation modeling to analyze causal pathways.
Main Results:
- Chronic venous disease (CVD) was highly prevalent (92.3%) among participants.
- A significant causal link was found between leg injection and CVD (P<.001).
- Worse walking mobility was associated with greater CVD severity (P<.001), with pain as an indirect mediator.
Conclusions:
- Leg injection is a direct cause of chronic venous disease (CVD) in this cohort.
- CVD and associated pain significantly impair walking mobility in individuals using illicit drugs.
- Clinical assessments of mobility in illicit drug users should incorporate evaluation of CVD and pain.
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