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M54.10
ICD-10-CM
Radiculopathy

Find information on radiculopathy diagnosis, including clinical documentation, medical coding (ICD-10 codes), and healthcare resources. Learn about symptoms, causes, and treatment options for radiculopathy. This resource provides guidance on accurate medical coding for radiculopathy and best practices for clinical documentation to support proper diagnosis and billing. Explore relevant healthcare information related to cervical radiculopathy, lumbar radiculopathy, and thoracic radiculopathy.

Also known as

Nerve root compression
Pinched nerve

Diagnosis Snapshot

Key Facts
  • Definition : Pinched nerve causing pain, numbness, or weakness along its path.
  • Clinical Signs : Radiating pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, reflex changes.
  • Common Settings : Neck, lower back, causing arm or leg pain (cervical or lumbar radiculopathy).

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to AAPC M54.10 Coding
M54.1-M54.9

Radiculopathy

Pain and other symptoms due to compressed spinal nerves.

G50.0-G59.9

Nerve disorders

Includes various nerve conditions like carpal tunnel and trigeminal neuralgia.

M47.2-M47.29

Spondylosis with radiculopathy

Radiculopathy specifically caused by spinal degeneration.

M51.0-M51.9

Intervertebral disc disorders

Disc problems, a common cause of radiculopathy.

Code-Specific Guidance

Decision Tree for

Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.

Is the site of the radiculopathy documented?

  • Yes

    Is the cause documented?

  • No

    Query physician for site of radiculopathy. Consider M54.9 for unspecified radiculopathy if query is unsuccessful.

Code Comparison

Related Codes Comparison

When to use each related code

Description
Pinched nerve root, causing pain, numbness, weakness.
Peripheral nerve damage, causing numbness, tingling, weakness.
Spinal cord compression, causing pain, weakness, bowel/bladder dysfunction.

Documentation Best Practices

Documentation Checklist
  • Radiculopathy diagnosis: ICD-10 code, laterality
  • Symptom onset, duration, and character
  • Physical exam: sensory/motor deficits
  • Imaging results (MRI, CT) correlation
  • Treatment plan: medications, PT, surgery

Coding and Audit Risks

Common Risks
  • Unspecified Radiculopathy

    Coding radiculopathy without laterality or specific nerve root can lead to claim denials and lost revenue due to lack of specificity.

  • Documentation Gaps

    Insufficient documentation linking radiculopathy to underlying cause (e.g., herniated disc) hinders accurate coding and CDI efforts for proper reimbursement.

  • Incorrect Site Coding

    Assigning the wrong anatomical site for radiculopathy (cervical, thoracic, lumbosacral) impacts medical necessity reviews and compliance audits.

Mitigation Tips

Best Practices
  • Thorough neuro exam & imaging (MRI) for accurate ICD-10 coding (M54.1)
  • Document pain location, radiation, & type for CDI & M54.1 specificity
  • Assess nerve root compression cause for correct diagnosis & compliance
  • EMG/NCV studies can confirm radiculopathy & support M54.1 coding
  • Correlate exam, imaging, & electrodiagnostics for compliant billing

Clinical Decision Support

Checklist
  • Verify radicular pain distribution: dermatomal pattern
  • Confirm sensory/motor deficits: reflex, strength testing
  • Correlate with imaging: MRI spine to visualize nerve root
  • Exclude other diagnoses: peripheral neuropathy, myelopathy

Reimbursement and Quality Metrics

Impact Summary
  • Radiculopathy reimbursement hinges on accurate ICD-10 (M54.1x) and CPT coding for procedures like nerve blocks or MRIs. Impacts: Optimized coding maximizes payment. Inaccurate codes lead to denials, reduced revenue.
  • Quality metrics for Radiculopathy include pain reduction, functional improvement, and patient satisfaction. Impacts: Effective documentation supports quality reporting. Data drives improved patient care.
  • Hospital reporting on Radiculopathy involves tracking readmissions and complications. Impacts: Accurate coding ensures proper risk adjustment. Data informs resource allocation and process improvement.

Streamline Your Medical Coding

Let S10.AI help you select the most accurate ICD-10 codes for . Our AI-powered assistant ensures compliance and reduces coding errors.

Quick Tips

Practical Coding Tips
  • Code laterality: right, left, bilateral
  • Specify nerve root: C5, L4, etc.
  • Document radicular pain location
  • Include exam findings: weakness, reflex
  • Consider imaging support for diagnosis

Documentation Templates

Patient presents with complaints consistent with radiculopathy.  Symptoms include radiating pain, numbness, tingling, and or weakness.  The location of the radicular symptoms suggests potential involvement of the (specify cervical, thoracic, or lumbar) spine.  Onset of symptoms was (date of onset and describe onset  e.g., gradual, sudden, after lifting heavy object).  Pain quality is described as (sharp, burning, aching, electric) and radiates from (specify location, e.g., neck into right arm, low back into left leg).  Physical examination reveals (positive or negative) Spurling's maneuver, (positive or negative) straight leg raise test, and diminished reflexes in (specify dermatome, myotome, e.g., C6, L5).  Differential diagnoses include herniated disc, spinal stenosis, nerve root compression, and degenerative disc disease.  Assessment includes radiculopathy likely secondary to (presumed etiology, e.g., disc herniation, foraminal stenosis).  Plan includes (conservative or surgical) management.  Conservative treatment options include NSAIDs for pain management, physical therapy referral for range of motion and strengthening exercises, and patient education on proper body mechanics.  If conservative treatment fails, consideration will be given for further imaging such as MRI or CT scan to assess nerve root compression and potential surgical intervention.  Patient was prescribed (medication name and dosage) and instructed to follow up in (timeframe) to assess response to treatment.  Diagnosis codes considered include (list relevant ICD-10 codes, e.g., M54.12, M54.16).  Medical necessity for diagnostic testing and treatment plan explained to the patient.