[Clinical semeiology of the perforating veins in essential varicosis in the postphlebitic syndrome].

After a reminder of the anatomy of the perforating veins of the lower extremities and their physiopathology, various clinical aspects are presented. In the essential form of varicose veins disease, long saphenous refluxes are, at the beginning, responsible for stasis in the superficial venous system. During the course of the disease, it seems that the perforators become incontinent. In the post-phlebitic syndrome, the manifestations are different and there are numerous perforators, the topography of which depends on the location of the thrombosis. A well conducted clinical examination is absolutely necessary in order to demonstrate the origin of the long or short reflux, before the start of any treatment. In case of failure or recurrence, phlebography or varicography must be performed.