" in the methodology. A proper prevalence assessment is not easily done and requires time and effort. Most studies have just focused on prevalence of leg ulcers of all causes and only a few have really validated the leg ulcer diagnosis objectively by use of hand-held Doppler, color Doppler ultrasound, or plethysmography. There are many pitfalls in performing a prevalence study of venous leg ulcers which introduce a risk of misinterpretation of the true prevalence. Some of these pitfalls and their likely effects are presented. Based on the available and most qualitative studies the overall preva"

Full text

"o conservative therapies, and the presence of non-healing or recurrent ulcers may lead one to consider surgery. However, even if surgery is properly indicated, traditional techniques such as femoral transposition and valve transplantation are not always suitable, and in these cases a de novo valve reconstruction represents a surgical opportunity. Our neovalve reconstruction technique consists in creating an intimal flap by performing a wall dissection. The purpose is to create an antireflux mechanism that reduces venous hypertension. This technique was applied from December 2000 in 39 selected"

Full text