Wiki Need help with primary diagnosis

[snt314]

Chief Complaint is "new onset left hip and buttock pain." Provider selected ICD-9 code 724.4 (lumbar radiculopathy) as the primary and only diagnosis. Is this ok, or should primary diagnosis be 719.45 (hip pain) with 724.4 listed as secondary diagnosis?

 

[lwagner]

If the physician has a definitive diagnosis of lumbar radiculopathy I would code that. Hip and buttock pain may be a sign or symptom of the radiculopathy. No need to code the pain

 

[00054680]

I agree.