Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: How should I code for a claw toe surgery with a tendon transfer? Is it the same thing as a hammertoe?New Mexico SubscriberAnswer:  The difference between claw toe and hammertoe has to do with which joint is affected. In a claw toe, all three joints are bent, while in a hammertoe, just one of the joints, usually the middle toe joint, is buckled, causing the toe to bend upward.Use the same codes for claw toe surgery as you do for hammertoe: 28285 (Correction, hammertoe [e.g., interphalangeal fusion, partial or total phalangectomy]) or 28286 (Correction, cock-up fifth toe, with plastic skin closure [e.g., Ruiz-Mora type procedure]). The tendon transfer is usually bundled into the procedure, so your carrier may not allow you to bill separately for it.