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Not yet recruitingNCT07163312VV-KNEEUpdated Sep 9, 2025

Knee Pain Relief After Endovenous Treatment for Lower Limb Varicose Veins: A Prospective Observational Study

An observational study in Varicose Veins of Lower Limb, Chronic Venous Insufficiency, CVI and Knee Pain Chronic, sponsored by Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-09-09.

Sponsored by Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
50
Ages
18 Years to 80 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study will observe patients with lower limb varicose veins who also have knee pain. Many patients with varicose veins experience swelling, heaviness, or aching in the legs, and some also report pain in or around the knee. Previous studies suggest that venous reflux and poor circulation may increase discomfort in the knee, especially when knee osteoarthritis is present.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether treatment of varicose veins with standard endovenous procedures can improve knee pain and function. Participants will undergo standard vein treatment as part of their clinical care. We will follow them for changes in knee pain, quality of life, and leg symptoms over time.

This study does not assign patients to experimental interventions. Instead, it collects information before and after treatment to better understand the relationship between varicose veins and knee pain relief. Findings from this study may help doctors identify which patients are most likely to benefit from venous treatment in terms of both leg and knee symptoms.

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Conditions studied

  • Varicose Veins of Lower Limb
  • Chronic Venous Insufficiency, CVI
  • Knee Pain Chronic
  • Knee Osteoarthritis
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In context

Osteoarthritis, Knee

3,292 studies on the registry are indexed under Osteoarthritis, Knee; 623 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 50 is below the median of 100 across 486 observational studies indexed under Osteoarthritis, Knee.

Browse Osteoarthritis, Knee studies →

Lead sponsor

Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the lead sponsor of 59 studies on the registry; 14 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 80 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

This study will include adult patients with clinically significant lower limb varicose veins (CEAP C2-C4) who also report knee pain. Participants are recruited from vascular surgery outpatient clinics and will undergo standard endovenous treatment as part of their clinical care. The study will observe changes in knee pain, function, and venous symptoms before and after treatment. Patients with advanced joint disease, systemic inflammatory disorders, or recent knee surgery are excluded to minimize confounding factors.

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

Adults aged ≥18 years. Clinical diagnosis of lower limb varicose veins with documented venous reflux on duplex ultrasound (CEAP C2-C4).

Presence of knee pain lasting ≥4 weeks prior to enrollment, confirmed by patient-reported VAS/NRS ≥3 at baseline.

Planned to undergo standard endovenous treatment (radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser ablation, or equivalent).

Ability to provide and complete study questionnaires.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Prior surgery or endovenous ablation for varicose veins in the same limb. History of inflammatory arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, gout) or other systemic rheumatologic disease.

Recent acute knee injury (ligament, meniscus, fracture) within 6 months. Prior knee replacement or major knee surgery. Recent intra-articular injection or arthroscopy (\<3 months). Known deep vein thrombosis or history of pulmonary embolism within the past 6 months.

Severe peripheral arterial disease (ABI \<0.8). Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Inability to comply with follow-up schedule or complete questionnaires.

Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

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Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
50 participants (estimated)
Target follow-up
6 Months
Patient registry
Yes

Interventions

  • ProcedureEndovenous Ablation for Varicose Veins

    Participants will receive standard endovenous treatment for lower limb varicose veins as part of their routine clinical care. The procedure may include radiofrequency ablation (RFA), endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), or other accepted thermal ablation techniques, with or without adjunctive phlebectomy or foam sclerotherapy if clinically indicated. The intervention is performed under tumescent local anesthesia by vascular surgeons according to established guidelines. No experimental techniques or investigational devices are used.

    Also known as: Endovenous Thermal Ablation (Radiofrequency Ablation or Endovenous Laser Ablation), Endovenous Treatment for Varicose Veins, Standard Varicose Vein Surgery

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Knee Pain Score (VAS)

    Visual Analog Scale (VAS, 0-10 cm)

    Time frame: From baseline to 3 months after treatment

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Knee Function and Symptoms

    The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) evaluates knee-related pain, stiffness, and functional limitations.Scoring Range: 0 to 96, with higher scores indicating worse symptoms and greater functional impairment.

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months

  2. Change in Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS)

    The Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) assesses the severity of chronic venous disease and varicose vein-related symptoms.Scoring Range: 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating more severe venous disease.

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months.

  3. Change in Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ)

    The Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ) measures varicose vein-specific quality of life.Scoring Range: 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating worse quality of life.

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months.

  4. Change in Health-Related Quality of Life

    The Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire (CIVIQ-14) is a 14-item disease-specific instrument used to assess quality of life in patients with chronic venous disease. It covers domains of pain, physical function, and psychological impact. Scoring Range: 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating worse quality of life.

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months

  5. Use of Analgesic Medications

    Number of patients using NSAIDs or other pain medications for knee pain.

    Time frame: 6 months.

  6. Adverse Events Related to Procedure

    Number and type of adverse events (nerve injury, phlebitis, DVT, infection).

    Time frame: Within 6 months after procedure.

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Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

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References and documents

Publications

  • Lesnyak OM, Zubareva EV, Goncharova MG, Maksimov DM. [Lower extremity venous diseases in primary knee osteoarthritis]. Ter Arkh. 2017;89(5):53-59. doi: 10.17116/terarkh201789553-59. Russian. PubMed 28631699 ↗
  • Oga Y, Sugiyama S, Matsubara S, Inaki Y, Matsunaga M, Shindo A. The Effectiveness of Endovenous Thermal Ablation for the Knee Symptoms of the Osteoarthritis with Varicose Veins. Ann Vasc Dis. 2021 Jun 25;14(2):108-111. doi: 10.3400/avd.oa.21-00016. PubMed 34239634 ↗
  • Gunes S, Sehim K, Cuneyt K, Gokmen D, Kucukdeveci AA. Is there a relationship between venous insufficiency and knee osteoarthritis? Turk J Phys Med Rehabil. 2020 Mar 3;66(1):40-46. doi: 10.5606/tftrd.2020.5110. eCollection 2020 Mar. PubMed 32318673 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — Plan Description: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because the study is observational, single-center, and involves limited sample size. Data will be used only for the purpose of this research project and protected according to institutional regulations.

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 9, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07163312
Lead sponsor
Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Responsible party
Chunshui He (Ph.D , Chief Physician of Vascular Surgery , Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine) — Principal investigator
First posted
Sep 9, 2025
Start date
Oct 1, 2025 (estimated)
Primary completion
Oct 1, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Nov 1, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 9, 2025

Study contacts

Chunshui He, Doctor
Contact
Chunshuihe@msn.com
18981885601

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Sep 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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