Early stage effect comparison of lower limb venous ulcer (C6) treatment by combination of SEPS and Trivex system to SEPS

Objective To compare the early stage treatment effect of lower limb venous ulcer (C6)by subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery (SEPS) to SEPS and Trivex system. Methods According to singular or even hospital number, one hundred and fifty-six patients of venous ulcer in lower limb adopted from January 2009 to December 2012 were divided into two groups. Experimental group: singular hospital number, treated by combination of SEPS and Trivex system, saphenous vein ligation and stripping, percutaneous and continuous venule circumsuture at the same time; control group: even hospital number, treated by SEPS, and saphenous vein ligation and stripping, percutaneous and continuous venule circumsuture. Results In the first month, the healing rate in two groups had no statistically significant differences; pain and numbness in experimental group was much higher than control group (26.3% vs 11.2%, 23.8% vs 10.1%, P<0.05). There was no ulcer recurrence in the two groups. In the third month, the healing rate in experimental group was much higher than control group (80.0% vs 66.3%, P<0.05) , and numbness in experimental group was much higher than control group (12.5% vs 3.4%, P<0.05). In the sixth month, the healing rate in experimental group was higher than control group (91.3% vs 79.8%, P<0.05) . No patient felt pain and numbness. The recurrent rate of ulcer in experimental group was lower than control group (1.25% vs 7.87%, P<0.05). All patients in the two groups had no serious complications, but subcutaneous hematoma and skin numbness after operation was much higher than control group in the first month (P<0.05), and became the same in the sixth month. Conculsion Though the slight complications of experimental group such as subcutaneous hematoma and skin numbness after operation are much higher than SEPS group in the first to third month, combination of Trivex system with SEPS is a better way to treat venous ulcerv (C6) in lower limb for a higher healing rate and a lower recurrence rate. Key words: Venous ulcer; Trivex; Subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery