Orthopedic Coding Alert
Reader Question:
Rely on Combo Code for This Lumbago/Sciatica Dx
Published on Fri Jan 06, 2023
Question: Encounter notes indicate that a patient suffers from right-sided lumbago and sciatica. What ICD-10 code(s) should I report? I was thinking M54.31 and M54.50. Connecticut Subscriber Answer: You shouldn’t report either of the codes you mentioned for this patient’s diagnosis. Instead, report M54.41(Lumbago with sciatica, right side). The ICD-10 codes you chose — M54.31 (Sciatica, right side) and M54.50 (Low back pain, unspecified) — are technically accurate to report this patient’s condition. However, you should always choose a single diagnosis code when it can accurately portray what two (or more) codes can portray. 
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Rely on Combo Code for This Lumbago/Sciatica Dx
Question: Encounter notes indicate that a patient suffers from right-sided lumbago and sciatica. What ICD-10 code(s) [...]
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