Orthopedic Coding Alert

Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider treated a patient with “skeletal fluorosis, R shoulder, R upper arm.” I’m at a loss. What’s skeletal fluorosis, and what is the correct ICD-10 code(s) for these injuries?

Georgia Subscriber

Answer: First, your code: Report M85.19 (Skeletal fluorosis, multiple sites) to represent your patient’s ailments.

Condition definition: Skeletal fluorosis is a chronic bone disease caused by excessive consumption of fluoride, which leads to the accumulation of fluoride in the bones. This can result in increased bone density, making the bones more susceptible to fractures and deformities. In severe cases, skeletal fluorosis can cause joint pain, stiffness, and limited movement.

Meet the family: You’d choose M85.19 in your case because the provider diagnosed skeletal fluorosis at multiple sites. If the fluorosis had been focused on a single area, you’d choose among these codes, depending on encounter specifics:

• M85.10 (Skeletal fluorosis, unspecified site)
• M85.11- (Skeletal fluorosis, shoulder)
• M85.12- (Skeletal fluorosis, upper arm)
• M85.13- (Skeletal fluorosis, forearm)
• M85.14- (Skeletal fluorosis, hand)
• M85.15- (Skeletal fluorosis, thigh)
• M85.16- (Skeletal fluorosis, lower leg)
• M85.17- (Skeletal fluorosis, ankle and foot)
• M85.18 (Skeletal fluorosis, other site).