Venous stasis: successful outcome, and symptomatic relief in patients undergoing Linton procedures

A retrospective study of forty-one patients who had undergone subfascial ligation of perforating veins in the lower extremity, or Linton procedure, is presented. All procedures were performed by the same surgeon from 1971 to 1993. Two patients underwent bilateral procedures. There were 28 female patients and 13 males. Fifteen had a history of smoking. There was a history of previous thrombophlebitis in 21 patients, and 21 had a family history of varicosities and/or ulceration. Results of venograms and Doppler duplex studies, if done, were evaluated. Follow up procedures, such as sclerosing injections and skin grafts, were also noted. A total of 25 patients had subsequent sclerosing injections, one underwent debridement twice, and one received skin grafts, secondary to incisional skin necrosis. It was noted that there was no occurrence of wound infection or incisional necrosis when zinc oxide paste boots were applied and maintained post-operatively. All patients were contacted directly prior to the writing of this article to ascertain prevalence, severity, and circumstances of recurrence.