| Terminology | Definition or comment |
| Onset: | |
| Acute | Ischaemia <14 days |
| Acute on chronic | Worsening symptoms and signs (<14 days) |
| Chronic | Ischaemia stable for >14 days |
| Severity (acute, acute on chronic): | |
| Incomplete | Limb not threatened |
| Complete | Limb threatened |
| Irreversible | Limb non-viable |