Compression sclerotherapy of anterolateral thigh primary varicose veins (lateral accessory saphenous varicose veins): a prospective five-year follow-up study

Aim: To determine the percentage of varicose vein recurrence after compression sclerotherapy of a specific primary varicose vein, the anterolateral thigh vein (lateral accessory saphenous vein), without saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) incompetence at yearly intervals in a long-term follow-up study, and to investigate factors influencing recurrence. Patients and methods: Of 117 patients recruited, 11 were lost to follow up; therefore 106 patients were evaluated: 97 women, mean age 42 years (range 21-72) and nine men, mean age 47 years (range 21-67). If SFJ incompetence was present, surgical ligation of the junction was performed. Primary varicose veins were treated with compression sclerotherapy using polidocanol. A total of 111 limbs were studied. Results: Recurrent varicose veins were found after six months in 6% of cases, after one year in 18% (cumulative percentage), after two years in 28%, after three years in 36%, after four years in 46%and after five years in 54%. No differences could be detected between the recurrence group and the group without recurrence regarding length of varicose veins, amount of polidocanol used, number of injections, circumference of the leg or age of the patient. The varicose vein diameter was significantly larger in the recurrence group. Conclusions: Compression sclerotherapy with polidocanol of the anterolateral thigh vein (lateral accessory saphenous vein) without SFJ incompetence results in a high recurrence rate. Recurrence depends only on the vessel diameter, and not on the length of the varicose vein, amount of sclerosant used or patient age.