Evaluation of the efficacy of compressive stockings, sclerotherapy and surgical ligation in treatment of venous ulcers [Using coloured Doppler venous imaging]

ABSTRACT

Juxta ulcer high pressured subcutaneous veins adversely affect venous stasis ulceration. In this study we prospectively evaluated the efficacy of either sclerotherapy or surgical ligation of subcutaneous veins as an adjunct to compressive elastic stockings in treatment of venous ulcers. A total number of 52 patients with perimalleolar ulcer were examined with coloured venous duplex scan. A selected group of 38 patients with juxta ulcer subcutaneous veins were randomized into 3 groups, In group I [n = 10] compressive stockings [CS] was the only treatment. In group II [n = 14] repeated sclerotherapy of the juxta ulcer veins were added to CS, while in group III [n = 14] surgical ligation of these veins was performed plus CS. The results showed that in group III the time required for both 50% and near 100% healing was significantly less than the other two groups. The exact mechanism of action for this treatment is not clear, however this study suggests that obliteration of these subcutaneous veins hastens healing of venous ulcers