Frequency of Isolated Superficial Venous Incompetence in Patients with Venous Ulcers as Measured by Ambulatory Strain-Gauge Plethysmography

Abstract

Objective: Identification of isolated superficial venous incompetence (SVI) in patients with clinically diagnosed venous leg ulcers using a computerized strain-gauge plethysmograph. Design: Ambulatory leg ulcer patients were assessed as to the clinical diagnosis. Diagnoses other than venous ulceration were excluded. Setting: Department of Dermatology, Sahlgrenska Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. Patients: One hundred and fourteen patients (133 legs) with venous leg ulcers were investigated. Main outcome measures: All patients were also investigated by measuring systolic ankle and arm pressure measurements. The ankle/arm (AI) was below 0.9 in 22 of the 133 ulcerated legs. Results: Of the 111 ulcerated legs with an AI>0.9, 10% had an isolated SVI. Conclusions: Isolated SVI is an important cause of venous leg ulcer development. Strain-gauge plethysmography is an inexpensive screening method, and is easy to use. Further examination with the more exact, but also more expensive and time-consuming, colour duplex should be performed in selected cases.