Incompetent perforating veins of the foot

Abstract

The perforating veins (P.V.s) of the foot have been known among phlebologists. However, thus far, few reports have been published regarding this subject. Forty-two cases of P.V.s of the foot are presented. Their prevelant anatomical location was recognized. Diagnostic method and criteria were investigated by various technologies. It was established that Doppler-Ultrasound (D.U.) with proper isolation technique for local perforating veins is the diagnostic method of choice over Color Flow Duplex Imaging (C.F.D.I.). C.F.D.I. alone would have missed twenty-four percent of clinically incompetent P.V.s of the foot. This suggests that incompetent P.V.s can be very small and can often escape detection by duplex imaging. Over ninety percent of P.V.s of the foot are associated with superficial venous reflux of the leg. This may suggest that the etiological factor for development of P.V.s of the foot is secondary to outflow resistance.