Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: The podiatrist diagnosed the patient with a solitary bone cyst in his left ankle and foot. Which ICD-10 code should I use to report this condition?

Maine Subscriber

Answer: The appropriate ICD-10 code for this condition is M85.472 (Solitary bone cyst, left ankle and foot).

When a patient has a solitary bone cyst, he has an empty or fluid-filled cavity in his bones that weakens his bones. This condition is also referred to as a simple bone cyst.

Symptoms: Patients who suffer from solitary bone cysts may have pain, weakness in the bones leading to bone fractures, restriction of motion, discoloration of the skin around the bone, and the inability to bear weight on the affected bone.

Treatment options: Providers diagnose solitary bone cysts based upon the patient's medical history; a physical examination; and imaging techniques like X rays, computed tomography, or MRI, and biopsy, if necessary.

Treatment options include surgery like aspiration and injection, or curettage and bone graft; and nonsurgical management of the cyst and any fracture that results due to the bone cyst.