ObjectiveTo investigate and assess the value and efficiency of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for the treatment of infrapopliteal arteriosclerosis obliterans in diabetic patients. MethodsFifty-one diabetic patients with infrapopliteal arteriosclerosis obliterans undergoing PTA in our department from January 2010 to January 2013 were included in this study. Among them, 43 patients were followed up for 2 years. Based on the Fontaine stage, we analyzed their ankle-brachial index (ABI) before and after surgery. The curative effects were evaluated. ResultsThe PTA success rate and clinical symptoms remission rate in Fontaine stage Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ group was 96.2% (25/26), 83.3% (15/18), and 42.9% (3/7), respectively. The success rate for stage Ⅱ patients was significantly higher than that for stage Ⅲ and stage Ⅳ patients (P<0.05). ABI ranged from 0.60±0.11 before surgery to 0.86±0.09, 0.85±0.08, 0.84±0.07, and 0.83±0.08, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery respectively. Paired t-test showed the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). There were 9 cases of recurrence during the follow-up. ConclusionPTA is a safe and effective method for diabetic patients with infrapopliteal arteriosclerosis obliterans, and it can improve the patients' clinical symptoms. We can obtain a satisfactory effect in a short term, but the evaluation of long-term effect needs further follow-up.