Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: The podiatrist diagnosed the patient with right-footed, acquired, rigid hammertoe. The podiatrist then performed a hammertoe correction via total phalangectomy and a capsulotomy for one joint with tenorrhaphy. Texas Subscriber

Answer: You should report M20.41 (Other hammer toe(s) (acquired), right foot) for the ICD-10 code and 28285 for the hammertoe correction.

During a 28285 procedure, the surgeon will roughen up the cartilage on the base of the middle phalanx to promote arthrofibrosis, and the complex is then straightened and fixed with a K-wire. Most times the head of the proximal phalynx is removed. The toe is not always fused with a K-wire. There are now many different implants to be used between the proximal and middle phalynx.

Caution: If the podiatrist were to perform a hammertoe procedure (28285) at the hallux interphalangeal joint (IPJ), and he still found contracture of the toe at the MPJ, he may then choose to release the extensor tendon through a second incision at the MPJ. You would also report 28010 (Tenotomy, percutaneous, toe; single tendon) for this service.