title: Comparison of venous reflux in the affected and non-affected leg in patients with unilateral venous ulceration.
abstract: In 54 patients with unilateral leg ulceration of purely venous aetiology the only difference in venous reflux between affected and non-affected legs was with respect to the popliteal and crural veins. Deep and superficial venous reflux is common in legs without the skin changes typical of chronic venous insufficiency. The significance of venous reflux in an ulcerated leg cannot therefore be determined without reference to the contralateral, clinically normal, limb. Surgery should be directed at correcting reflux present in the ulcerated limb but not in the unaffected limb. In a minority of patients this entails superficial venous surgery alone, but in the majority such an approach would, ideally, entail correction of deep venous incompetence.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Bradbury
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brittenden
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Ruckley
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011152:Popliteal Vein / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000503:physiopathology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology