The document outlines five common foot conditions, their causes, and corresponding ICD-10 codes, emphasizing the importance of proper foot biomechanics and lifestyle adjustments, especially for older adults. Conditions discussed include plantar fasciitis, athlete's foot, bunions, hammer toe, and ingrown toenails, along with their treatment options and diagnostic codes. It also highlights the value of outsourcing medical billing and coding for busy physicians to ensure accurate documentation and patient care.

1. Five Common Foot
Conditions and Their ICD-10
Codes
Pain in the foot can occur due to poor foot biomechanics, muscle imbalances or
incorrect footwear. Here are 5 common foot conditions & their ICD-10 codes.
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Your feet form the foundation of your body which requires proper
balancing. While facilitating easy movement, the feet also support
the entire weight of your body. As a result, they are prone to
significant wear and tear. People may find it difficult to walk, run
or stand if their ankles are worn out after athletic practice
sessions or outdoor games. Older adults are more prone to
certain foot conditions but risks can be significantly reduced with
lifestyle changes. As people get older, the wear and tear
increases and they could develop certain conditions, particularly
between the ages of 40 and 60. Pain in the foot area can be
caused due to poor foot biomechanics, muscle imbalances, poor
training techniques or incorrect footwear. Foot conditions/injuries
have to be reported on medical claims using the correct medical
codes. Relying on the services of an established medical billing
and coding company is a feasible option for busy physicians.
Here discussed are some common foot conditions that older
adults are at risk for –
Plantar Fasciitis – One of the most common orthopedic
complaints, plantar fasciitis occurs due to inflammation of a thick
band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and
connects your heel bone to your toes (plantar fascia). The
condition causes stabbing pain that usually occurs with your first
steps in the morning. The pain can also be triggered by long
periods of standing, when you get up after sitting or after

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exercise (and not during it). Ignoring this condition may result in
chronic heel pain that hinders your regular activities. Treatment
for this condition includes resting, pain medications, icing the
painful area and stretching. ICD-10 codes for plantar fasciitis
include –
 M72 – Fibroblastic disorders
 M72.0 – Palmar fascial fibromatosis [Dupuytren]
 M72.1 – Knuckle pads
 M72.2 – Plantar fascial fibromatosis
 M72.4 – Pseudosarcomatous fibromatosis
 M72.6 – Necrotizing fasciitis
 M72.8 – Other fibroblastic disorders
 M72.9 – Fibroblastic disorder, unspecified
Athlete’s Foot - A fungal infection that begins between the toes,
athlete’s foot commonly occurs in people whose feet sweat a lot,
especially when confined within tight-fitting shoes. Also known
as tinea pedis and ringworm of the foot, the condition most
commonly develops between the toes. It usually causes burning,
stinging, redness, and itching. It also causes flaking of the skin in
some people. The condition can usually be treated with over-the-
counter (OTC) medications. The applicable ICD-10 code is -
 B35.3 - Tinea pedis
Bunions – A bunion is a swollen, sore, bony bump that forms on
the joint between the big toe and foot. It occurs when some of

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the bones in the front part of your foot move out of place.
Wearing tight, narrow or high-heeled shoes can cause bunions.
Treatment options vary depending on the severity of your bunion
and how much pain it causes and normally includes medications,
using shoe inserts or bunion pads, and icing the area. Choosing
shoes carefully can help prevent bunions. Shoes that are used
must have a wide toe box and there should be space between the
tip of your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Related diagnosis
codes include –
 M21.61 - Bunion
 M21.611 - Bunion, of right foot
 M21.612 - Bunion, of left foot
 M21.619 - Bunion, of unspecified foot
 M21.62 - Bunionette
 M21.621 - Bunionette, of right foot
 M21.622 - Bunionette, of left foot
Hammer Toe - A hammer toe is a deformity that causes your
toe to bend or curl downward instead of pointing forward. It can
affect any toe on your foot. It most often affects the second or
third toe. Common causes of this condition include - a traumatic
toe injury, arthritis, an unusually high foot arch, tightened
ligaments or tendons in the foot and pressure from a bunion. In
some cases, it may be present at birth. Symptoms may be mild
or severe and may include - a toe that bends downward, difficulty

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walking, corns or calluses, inability to flex your foot or wiggle
your toes, and claw-like toes. ICD-10 codes for diagnosing
hammer toes include –
 M20.4 - Other hammer toe(s) (acquired)
 M20.40 - Other hammer toe(s) (acquired), unspecified foot
 M20.41- Other hammer toe(s) (acquired), right foot
 M20.42 - Other hammer toe(s) (acquired), left foot
 M20.5 - Other deformities of toe(s) (acquired)
 M20.5X - Other deformities of toe(s) (acquired)
 M20.5X1 - Other deformities of toe(s) (acquired), right foot
 M20.5X2 - Other deformities of toe(s) (acquired), left foot
 M20.5X9 - Other deformities of toe(s) (acquired),
unspecified foot
 M20.6 - Acquired deformities of toe(s), unspecified
 M20.60 - Acquired deformities of toe(s), unspecified,
unspecified foot
 M20.61 - Acquired deformities of toe(s), unspecified, right
foot
 M20.62 - Acquired deformities of toe(s), unspecified, left
foot
Ingrown Toenail - Ingrown toenails occur when the edges or
corners of your nails grow into the skin next to the nail. The
condition occurs in both men and women. Generally, the big toe
is most likely to get an ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenails are
more common in people with sweaty feet, such as teenagers.

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Older people may also be at higher risk because toenails thicken
with age. Symptoms include - red, swollen skin; pain, bleeding,
oozing pus and overgrowth of skin around the toe. ICD-10 codes
for ingrown toe nails –
 L60 - Nail disorders
 L60.0 - Ingrowing nail
 L60.1 - Onycholysis
 L60.2 - Onychogryphosis
 L60.3 - Nail dystrophy
 L60.4 - Beau's lines
 L60.5 - Yellow nail syndrome
 L60.8 - Other nail disorders
 L60.9 - Nail disorder, unspecified
Preventing the occurrence of common foot conditions requires
having a clear understanding about the potential risk factors that
may possibly cause these conditions. Diagnosis of various foot
conditions or injuries may involve a detailed physical examination
to assess the specific type of injury and check how the injury has
affected the patient’s range of motion. Diagnostic imaging tests
like X-rays, Computerized Tomography (CT) and Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) may be recommended to check for the
severity of the condition. Podiatrists and other specialists may
often combine medications and other non-surgical options like
physical therapy, chiropractic treatment and ice and heat
applications to treat these foot conditions in the long run. In

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severe cases, if the non-surgical modalities do not provide
adequate pain relief, surgery will be recommended as a last
resort to treat injuries of the foot. Treating patients with different
foot conditions and taking care of the documentation
requirements simultaneously can be a challenging task for
physicians. Outsourcing medical billing and coding tasks is a
sensible option to ensure appropriate care as well as accurate
clinical documentation of the above-mentioned foot problems.