Internal Medicine Coding Alert
Reader question:
Code 11740 for Drainage of Toe Nail Hematoma
Published on Mon Apr 16, 2012 
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Question: A patient visited our office because of a hematoma under her toe nail. The physician used cauterization to burn through the nail and drained the hematoma. What codes do we report?
North Carolina Subscriber
Answer: The correct procedure code is 11740 (Evacuation of subungual hematoma). The corresponding diagnosis code would be 924.3 (Contusion of lower limb and of other and unspecified sites; toe), which includes hematomas under the toenail. As a secondary diagnosis, you may also want to report an appropriate "E" code to reflect the external cause of the injury, if appropriate.
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