Echographie du creux poplité recherche d'une artériole petite saphène avant sclérothérapie. Discussion

Routine investigation by ultrasonography with pulsed Doppler was carried out in 125 patients, candidates for sclerosing injections of the short saphenous. Study of the contents of the popliteal fossa, of the short saphenous, of the position of its junction in relation to the joint line of the knee, as well as detection of a possible satellite arteriole of the short saphenous was undertaken from a hemodynamic and topographic standpoint. A small calibre satellite arteriole of the short saphenous was a virtually constant finding, situated deep to the junction of the short saphenous, parallel to the latter at its origin, and interposed between the popliteal and short saphenous veins. Variations in the size and/or position of this vessel in relation to the saphenous could be considered as being partially responsible for complications of sclerosing injections in this area. Study involved the junction of the short saphenous, its size, continence and position in relation to the joint line of the knee, as well as the presence, size and position in relation to the saphenous of a satellite arteriole.