Surgical treatment for venous ulcers: is it worthwhile?

We have reviewed the results of treatment of 159 consecutive limbs presenting with a clinical diagnosis of venous ulcer in 140 patients (70 male, aged 28-90 years, median 66 years). Of the patients, 61% were referred because of severe pain and 53% of the ulcers had been present > 2 years. Patients were evaluated clinically and by Doppler, with selective use of venography, photoplethysmography, arteriography and latterly duplex scanning. Seventy-one limbs had surgery to the superficial veins, 18 limbs had arterial reconstruction, and 10 limbs had skin grafting alone. There was one operative death after arterial reconstruction but none after venous surgery. Patients were followed up for 1-5 years (median 3 years). Of those who had been treated surgically, healing was achieved in 88%, and ulcers healed in 52% of those treated non-operatively. In all, 18% of the ulcers recurred in each group. These results show a favourable association between appropriate venous and arterial surgery and the healing of venous ulcers, with relief of pain. They support a policy of thorough evaluation and appropriate surgical treatment in these patients.