Radiological demonstration of the relationship between calf varices and sapheno-femoral incompetence

The function of the sapheno-femoral junction has been investigated by descending venography in patients before and after treatment of their varicose veins by an injection/compression technique. An attempt was made to quantitate the degree of sapheno-femoral incompetence by measuring the maximum vein diameters of saphenous and femoral veins as demonstrated on the venograms. The results indicate that treatment of distal varices causes a significant reduction of sapheno-femoral incompetence. This supports the theory that sapheno-femoral incompetence is a secondary effect of varicose veins rather than their cause.