Primary varicose veins: The sapheno-femoral junction, distribution of varicosities and patterns of incompetence

Distribution of varicosities in (A) male and (B) female limbs presenting with a competent, or an incompetent SFJ. Striped boxes, varicosities in the calf only; filled boxes, varicosities in the thigh only; open boxes, varicosities in both the calf and the thigh. Numbers are total numbers of limbs. SFJ, sapheno-femoral junction.

Correlation between the distribution of varicosities and that of incompetent segment of the long saphenous system (A) above-knee only, (B) below-knee only, and (C) combine above- and below-knee. Sites of varicosities–striped segments, calf only; filled segments, thigh only; open segments, calf and thigh. Numbers are total numbers per group of incompetent segment with percentage (of total group) in parenthesis.

Distribution of incompetent segments of the long saphenous system in limbs with no incompetent calf or thigh perforating vessels in total (upper pie), and with a competent (lower left pie), or an incompetent (lower right pie) SFJ. Site of incompetent segment of the long saphenous system–striped segments, above-knee only, filled segments, below-knee only; open segments, combined above- and below-knee. Numbers are total number of limbs with no incompetent calf or thigh perforating vessels per incompetent segments with percentage (of total) in parenthesis. SFJ, saphenofemoral junction.