Endovascular treatment of below-the-elbow arteries in critical hand ischemia.

Although uncommon, critical hand ischemia (CHI) represents a cause of significant disability because of its effect on hand function. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is now considered a first-line therapy for above-the-elbow artery disease while there are few data regarding the treatment of below-the-elbow (BTE) arteries