Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: I have difficulty differentiating diagnosis of bunions from hallux valgus. Any tips?Answer: First, a bunion is an enlargement of bone or tissue around the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. A patient who always wears shoes that are too narrow around the toe box is prone to getting bunions.Contrary to common misconception, bunion and hallux valgus are two different disorders. Although CPT lists bunion procedure codes, such as 28290 (Correction, hallux valgus [bunion], with or without sesamoidectomy; simple exostectomy [e.g., Silver type procedure]), as "hallux valgus corrections," physicians who perform these aren't necessarily correcting a hallux valgus.Definition: If you look up 735.0 (Hallux valgus [acquired]), the definition reads, "Angled displacement of the great toe, causing it to ride over or under other toes." In fact, hallux valgus is simply a valgus deformity of the distal great toe (it points laterally) and doesn't have to overlap for orthopedist to call it hallux valgus.Consequence: [...]