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Primary Care Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Distinguish Pain Killing Agents in Plantar Injections

Published on Mon May 14, 2012

Question: Our physician administers a lot of steroid injections and injections of anesthetic for patients having pain in the sole of their foot. How should I code these? Is there any critical information that I need to know when reporting these procedures?

North Carolina Subscriber

Answer: Use 64455 (Injection[s], anesthetic agent and/or steroid, plantar common digital nerve[s] [e.g., Morton's neuroma]). You should also use the proper J code to indicate the type of steroid injected with 64455.

Physicians often administer steroid and anesthetic injections on the foot to treat Morton's neuroma, a frequently occurring injury of the forefoot that affects the third web space of the toes. During the procedure, the physician injects either an anesthetic agent or a steroid into the plantar common digital nerve from the dorsal direction.

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