Find information on hammer toe diagnosis, including clinical documentation, medical coding, and ICD-10 codes. Learn about hammer toe symptoms, treatment options, and relevant healthcare procedures. This resource covers M71.4, M71.5, and related podiatry coding guidelines for accurate medical billing and documentation. Explore hammer toe deformities, flexible hammer toe, rigid hammer toe, and surgical intervention details for healthcare professionals and patients seeking information.
Also known as
Hammer toe
Acquired hammer toe deformity.
Claw toe
Acquired claw toe deformity.
Other deformities of toe(s)
Deformities like overlapping toes, mallet toe.
Other congenital deformities of feet
Congenital deformities including hammer toe.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the hammer toe acquired or congenital?
Acquired
Is it associated with a corn or callus?
Congenital
Is it associated with other deformities?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Bent toe joint, usually second toe |
| Claw toe, several joints bent |
| Mallet toe, bent tip |
Missing or incorrect right/left designation for hammer toe, leading to claim rejections or inaccurate data analysis. Medical coding, ICD-10, healthcare compliance.
Using unspecified codes (e.g., M20.4) when a more specific code exists, impacting reimbursement and data quality. CDI, clinical documentation improvement, medical coding audits.
Failing to code associated conditions like arthritis or diabetes, impacting risk adjustment and appropriate reimbursement. ICD-10, medical coding guidelines, healthcare compliance.
Patient presents with complaints consistent with hammer toe deformity affecting the [specify digit, e.g., second toe] of the [right/left] foot. Symptoms include [list symptoms, e.g., pain, stiffness, difficulty walking, corn formation, metatarsalgia, dorsal flexion contracture]. On physical examination, the affected toe exhibits flexion at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint with [describe the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint position, e.g., extension or flexion]. [Describe the presence or absence of calluses, corns, and their location, e.g., A corn is present on the dorsum of the PIP joint]. Range of motion is limited in the affected toe. Assessment: Hammer toe deformity [specify, e.g., flexible, rigid] of the [specify digit] toe, [right/left] foot, likely secondary to [potential etiology if known, e.g., biomechanical abnormalities, tight footwear, rheumatoid arthritis]. Differential diagnosis includes claw toe, mallet toe, and osteoarthritis. Plan: Conservative treatment options including [specify treatment, e.g., padding, orthotics, splinting, wider shoes, exercises] were discussed. Patient education provided regarding proper shoe fit and foot care. If conservative measures fail, surgical intervention, such as hammer toe repair or arthroplasty, will be considered. Follow-up scheduled in [duration, e.g., four weeks] to assess treatment response. ICD-10 code: [specify, e.g., M20.52] will be used for billing and coding purposes.