Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: The patient has peroneal tendonitis. What is peroneal tendinitis, and which ICD-10-CM codes should I report for this condition?

Pennsylvania Subscriber

Answer: You should report peroneal tendinitis with the following ICD-10-CM codes, depending on encounter specifics:

• M76.70 (Peroneal tendinitis, unspecified leg)
• M76.71 (… right leg)
• M76.72 (… left leg)

The two peroneal tendons run parallel along the outer ankle bone. When a patient has peroneal tendonitis, his peroneal tendons become inflamed, which occurs when there is an increased load and overuse of the tendons, leading to them rubbing on the bone. This friction causes the tendons to swell. Over time, the tendons will thicken in size to try and manage the increased load more efficiently.

Common symptoms of peroneal tendonitis include the following:

• Pain at the back of the ankle
• Pain that worsens during activity and lessens during rest
• Pain when turning the foot in or out
• Swelling at the back of the ankle
• Instability of the ankle when bearing weight