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Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

You Be the Coder:

Achilles Tear

Published on Mon Apr 09, 2012

Question: What is the correct ICD-9 code for a tear of the Achilles tendon?Connecticut SubscriberAnswer: For an Achilles tendon tear, you should report 845.09 (Sprains and strains of ankle and foot; ankle sprain; other ankle sprain).This code can be tough to track down because there is no listing under Achilles tendon in ICD-9's alphabetical index, and you might not be inclined to look under sprain codes for a tendon tear injury.However, ICD-9 confirms that you're in the right place when you arrive at the 840-848 range of codes by supplying guidelines about other conditions that also qualify as sprains or strains. For diagnosis coding, a sprain or strain includes avulsion, hemarthrosis, laceration, rupture, or tear of a joint capsule, ligament, muscle, or tendon.If this definition isn't enough to ease your anxieties, ICD-9 also offers "Achilles tendon" as an example of when to use 845.09.
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