[Partial or total stripping of the great saphenous vein. 5-year recurrence frequency and 3-year frequency of neural complications after partial and total stripping of the great saphenous vein].
One hundred and sixty-three patients with primary long saphenous vein varices were randomized to either classical (total) stripping of the long saphenous vein (n = 84) or partial stripping, i.e. only of the femoral part of the vein (n = 79). Permanent nerve lesions were evaluated clinically three years and recurrence of varicosities evaluated five years postoperatively. It was found that 24 patients (29%) who had total stripping performed had permanent lesions of the saphenous nerve, whereas only four of the patients (5%) who had partial stripping of the vein had lasting nerve lesions (p < 0.01). Ten percent of patients in both groups had recurrence of varicosities. The present - one and only - long-term, randomized study of different stripping procedures shows that stripping the long saphenous vein below the knee increases the permanent nervedamage six-fold without reducing long-term recurrency. Total stripping of the long saphenous vein should be abandoned as a routine in varicose vein surgery.
Holme
K
K
Matzen
M
M
Bomberg
A J
AJ
Outzen
S L
SL
Holme
J B
JB
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery*