Eli's Rehab Report

Reader Questions:

Code Reason for Therapy as First Dx

Question: Our patient's right leg was amputated below the knee due to peripheral vascular disease secondary to uncontrolled type II diabetes. Which ICD-9 codes should I report for this patient's physical therapy?

New Jersey Subscriber

Answer: Your therapist is most likely helping the patient to learn to ambulate following the amputation. Because the PT is not actually treating the diabetes or the peripheral vascular disease, you should list those ICD-9 codes as secondary supporting diagnoses, and not as primary. Your diagnosis codes should appear as follows:

 • 781.2 -- Abnormality of gait
 • 250.72 -- Diabetes with peripheral circulatory disorders; type II or unspecified type, uncontrolled
 • 443.81 -- Peripheral angiopathy in diseases classified elsewhere
 • V49.75 -- Lower limb amputation status; below knee.
 
You may also add V58.78 (Aftercare following surgery of the musculoskeletal system, NEC).