Common peroneal nerve injury as a complication of short saphenous vein surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of common peroneal nerve (CPN) injury following short saphenous vein surgery (SSV) in a UK district general hospital, and establish possible risk factors, and preventative strategies to minimize the risk of nerve injury following this type of surgery.


METHODS
Retrospective review of all cases of SSV surgery performed in a single institution during the period January 2002-October 2004.


RESULTS
Sixty-four patients underwent SSV surgery during the review period. Three patients (4.7%) developed a CPN injury postoperatively. One patient recovered fully after 24 h, whereas the other two patients' symptoms recovered within six months. All three patients had a saphenopopliteal junction (SPJ) located high above the popliteal skin crease.


CONCLUSIONS
CPN injury during SSV surgery occurs with an appreciable frequency. In view of this, there is a need for a revised approach to the management of SSV disease, possibly incorporating less-invasive techniques such as endovenous closure.
Atkin
G K
GK
Department of Vascular Surgery, Hillingdon Hospital, Hillingdon, Middlesex, UK.
Round
T
T
Vattipally
V R
VR
Das
S K
SK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000293:injuries*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*