Advanced Search

Orthopedic Coding Alert

ICD-10 Update:

Pay Attention to Laterality When Reporting Meralgia Paresthetica

Published on Fri Oct 14, 2011

Key: ICD-10 has different codes for the right and left limbs.Meralgia paresthetica may be a diagnosis you encounter frequently in your orthopedic practice; under ICD-10, you'll need to look specifically for laterality details to accurately code this condition. Code 355.1 (Meralgia paresthetica) in ICD-9 expands into three options in ICD-10, as of October 1, 2013:G57.10 (Meralgia paresthetica, unspecified lower limb)G57.11 (Meralgia paresthetica, right lower limb)G57.12 (Meralgia paresthetica, left lower limb) Understand meralgia parestheticaMeralgia paresthetica means the patient is experiencing numbness or pain in the outer thigh that is not caused by an injury to the thigh but an injury to the sensory nerve supplying that region. This nerve, called the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, extends from the spinal column to the thigh. The cause of the numbness or pain is usually an entrapment or compression of the nerve. The pain may be acute and severe and may radiate distantly into [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Orthopedic Coding Alert

View All