Objectives: To investigate whether a silicone implant at the sapheno-femoral ligation site could prevent recurrent varicosities.
Materials and methods: Two non-randomised groups of patients were studied prospectively. In group A 173 patients and 212 limbs had sapheno-femoral ligation, while 172 patients and 210 limbs additionally had a piece (2x3cm) of silicone sheet sutured to the saphenous stump to cover the anterior half of the common femoral vein. The implant was fixed in apposition to the deep vein by carefully closing the cribriform fascia. Colour duplex scanning was performed after 2 and 12 months.
Results: In the no implant group neovascularisation was observed in 35 (17%) after 12 months, but only in 13 (6%) limbs treated with a silicone implant (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Interposition of a partition of silicone implant seems to lower the incidence of neovascularisation one year after saphenofemoral ligation. This technique may constitute an efficient method to prevent recurrence at the correctly ligated saphenous stump.