The phlebotome in the management of incompetent perforating veins and venous ulceration

A shearing operation using a phlebotome has been used on 26 limbs of 24 patients with venous ulceration to deal with incompetent perforating veins. Only one ulcer has failed to heal or remain healed at mean operative follow-up of 24 months. Numbness, usually transient, and haematoma formation have been the only recorded complications. This procedure is recommended in the management of incompetent perforating veins associated with venous ulceration.