Treatment for superficial thrombophlebitis of the leg

Superficial thrombophlebitis (ST) or superficial venous thrombosis is a relatively common inflammatory thrombotic disorder that involves the development of a thrombus in a superficial vein located near the surface of the skin. The signs and symptoms of this condition include pain and a reddened, warm and tender cord extending along the vein, as well as erythema and oedema in the surrounding tissue. Patients with ST are at risk of developing more serious conditions, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) (Unno et al, 2002; Quenet et al, 2003).

The majority of cases of ST develop in varicose veins on the lower limbs. Risk factors include immobilisation, trauma, postoperative states, pregnancy, puerperium (the period immediately following childbirth), active malignancy, autoimmune diseases, use of oral contraceptive pills or hormonal replacement therapy, advanced age, obesity and a history of VTE (de Moerloose et al, 1998).