Surgery for varicosis of the short saphenous vein - Crossectomy or stripping?

Aim: The effectivity of crossectomy of the short saphenous vein is compared with crossectomy in combination with stripping of the short saphenous vein . Method: The operation results of 202 patients after crossectomy of the sh ort saphenous vein (160 legs) were compared with the those of crossectomy a nd stripping of the short saphenous vein (107) legs. Duplex ultrasonography follow-up examinations were carried out after 3 days and 6 weeks. Patients with muscle vein thrombosis underwent further follow-up at a later date. R esult: After crossectomy alone 10 of the 160 legs showed distal insufficien cy of the short saphenous vein which filled through lateral branches. In 7 cases the insufficient short saphenous veins were not found due to an atypi cal opening, and were left untreated. In contrast, in the group with crosse ctomy and stripping of the short saphenous vein we only found 2 cases of in sufficiency of the short saphenous vein. After surgery 19 patients had musc le vein thrombosis (11 after stripping, 8 after crossectomy). These primari ly affected the gastrocnemius veins. One female patient with normal postope rative recovery developed deep vein thrombosis 3 weeks after crossectomy of the short saphenous vein. Discussion: Crossectomy of the short saphenous v ein in combination with stripping is more effective than crossectomy alone - at least immediately after surgery. It largely prevents permanent insuffi ciency of the short saphenous vein. Noticeable pain in the calf after surge ry may be indicative of muscle vein thrombosis.