Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: How should I code for a claw toe surgery with a tendon transfer? Is it the same thing as a hammertoe?

New Mexico Subscriber

Answer:  The difference between claw toe and hammertoe has to do with which joint is affected. In a claw toe, all three joints are bent, while in a hammertoe, just one of the joints, usually the middle toe joint, is buckled, causing the toe to bend upward.

Use the same codes for claw toe surgery as you do for hammertoe: 28285 (Correction, hammertoe [e.g., interphalangeal fusion, partial or total phalangectomy]) or 28286 (Correction, cock-up fifth toe, with plastic skin closure [e.g., Ruiz-Mora type procedure]). The tendon transfer is usually bundled into the procedure, so your carrier may not allow you to bill separately for it.