A series of patients with primary VV underwent SFJLD under local anesthetic as day case procedures. The volume of VV was quantified with a cartograph wheel, whereas the extent and severity of VV was assessed with four validated questionnaires: (a) Clinical Etiology Anatomy Pathology Score, (b) Venous Clinical Severity Score, (c) Aberdeen Varicose Vein Severity Score, and (d) Short Form 36. Patients were assessed preoperatively, and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. The analysis of variance for repeated measures test was used; a p value <0.05 was found to be significant.
There were 48 patients (15 men; mean age: 54 years; 95 % CI: 29-79). In all, 91 % (n = 44) of patients had cosmetic and symptomatic improvement. The volume of VV reduced significantly over the three postoperative time points when compared with preoperatively (112 [95 % CI: 88-136] vs. 75 [95 % CI: 55-97] vs. 65 [95 % CI: 43-87] vs. 58 [95 % CI: 31-86], p = 0.001). Using the Clinical Etiology Anatomy Pathology, Venous Clinical Severity Score, and Aberdeen Varicose Vein Severity Score questionnaires, severity of VV improved postoperatively when compared withpreoperatively (p = 0.001 respectively). Improvements in quality of life were also noted postoperatively with the Short Form 36 questionnaire (p = 0.032). At maximum follow-up of 3 years, 13 % (n = 6) had recurrent VV.
SFJLD confers cosmetic and symptomatic improvement at 1 month. Improvement is sustained on early follow-up, thereby allowing multiple stab avulsions to be performed as a staged procedure within 6 months. The rates of recurrent VV are acceptable on short-term follow-up.