Answer:
The long saphenous vein is a superficial vein that runs along the medial aspect of the leg, and it is often removed or "stripped" during surgical procedures to treat varicose veins. The medial side of the lower leg is supplied by several cutaneous nerves, including the saphenous nerve, which runs along the course of the long saphenous vein.
During the stripping procedure, the saphenous nerve may be injured or irritated, leading to pain and paraesthesia (tingling or numbness) along the distribution of the nerve. This can result in symptoms such as burning, shooting pain, or a sensation of pins and needles in the medial aspect of the lower leg.
In addition to nerve injury, other potential causes of pain and paraesthesia following saphenous vein stripping may include inflammation, hematoma (blood clot), or infection at the surgical site. However, given the location of the symptoms and the known cutaneous nerve supply to that area, injury to the saphenous nerve is a likely explanation.