Ulcer healing after varicose surgery - Results after five years

Aim: To investigate the long-term results of varicose surgery for treatment of venous crural ulcers. Method: Analysis of the long-term results of 63 p atients with varicotomy of the great saphenous vein for a venous ulcer five years previously. Result: Of the 63 lower extremities, 49 showed permanent resolution within 6 months of surgery. In another four patients the lesion s had healed within 1.5 years of the varicotomy. Long-term healing of the v enous ulcers was achieved in 84% of the patients. These were exclusively pa tients with an ulcer resulting from trunk varicosis. 6% (four legs) of the patients had recurrent ulcers which have now resolved with treatment. In si x patients (10%) the ulcer persisted continuously for five years in spite o f additional conservative treatment. In addition to varicosis these patient s have serious intercurrent diseases (malignant processes, post-thrombotic syndrome, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, pronounced lymphoedema, et c.). Conclusion: Varicotomy provides very good permanent results in patient s with trunk varicosis and venous ulcers. An additional intercurrent diseas e considerably worsens the prognosis.