Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: What is plantar fasciitis heel pain and what ICD-9 code should I use to report it?

Answer Plantar fasciitis heel pain is the most common foot problem. The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous band of tissues that attaches to the heel bone (calcaneus's) and spans across the bottom of the foot and arch and attaches to the back of the toes. It acts like a bowstring to maintain the arch of the foot and it is the body's main shock absorber.

Factors that may contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis heel pain include: flat (pronated) feet, high arched rigid feet, poor shoe support, short shoes, walking/running uphill, soft terrain (sand), increasing age, sudden weight increase, and tight calf muscles.

The appropriate diagnosis code for plantar fasciitis is 728.71 (Plantar fascial fibromatosis).