What is the Drop Foot ICD 10 Code?
Drop foot is a condition that affects the ability to lift the front part of the foot. It can cause difficulty walking, tripping, and falling. Drop foot can be caused by various factors, such as nerve injury, muscle weakness, brain or spinal cord disorders, or trauma. In this blog post, we will explain what drop foot is, what are its symptoms and causes, and how to code it in ICD-10.
What are the symptoms of a drop foot?
The main symptom of a drop foot is the inability to lift the front part of the foot. This can result in dragging the toes along the ground or lifting the whole leg to avoid tripping. Some people may also experience numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the affected foot or leg. Drop foot can affect one or both feet and can be temporary or permanent.
What are the causes of drop foot?
Drop foot is caused by weakness or paralysis of the muscles involved in lifting the front part of the foot. These muscles are controlled by a nerve called the peroneal nerve, which runs from the lower spine to the lower leg. The peroneal nerve can be damaged by various factors, such as:
– Compression of the nerve in the leg due to a serious knee injury, a cast, a brace, or crossing the legs for a long time
– Injury to the nerve during hip or knee replacement surgery
– Diseases that affect the nerve, such as diabetes, neuropathy, or multiple sclerosis
– Diseases that affect the brain or spinal cord, such as stroke, cerebral palsy, or spinal muscular atrophy
– Trauma to the nerve due to a fracture, dislocation, or gunshot wound
How to code drop foot in ICD 10?
ICD-10 is a system of codes that classify diseases and health problems for medical records and billing purposes. Drop foot is classified under the category of other acquired deformities of limbs (M21). The specific code for drop foot depends on whether it is acquired or congenital, and which foot is affected. Here are some examples of drop foot ICD 10 Codes:
| M21.37 | Foot drop (Acquired) |
| M21.371 | Foot drop, right foot |
| M21.372 | Foot drop left foot |
| Q66.89 | Other congenital deformities of feet |
| Q66.890 | Congenital vertical talus deformity |
| Q66.891 | Congenital metatarsus adductus |
When coding drop foot in ICD-10, it is important to specify the cause of the condition if known. For example, if a drop foot is due to a stroke, you should also code for the stroke (I60-I69). If drop foot is due to diabetes, you should also code for diabetes (E08-E13). If drop foot is due to a nerve injury, you should also code for the injury (S00-T88).
Conclusion
Drop foot is a condition that affects the ability to lift the front part of the foot. It can cause difficulty walking, tripping, and falling. Drop foot can be caused by various factors, such as nerve injury, muscle weakness, brain or spinal cord disorders, or trauma. Drop foot can be coded in ICD-10 using codes from the category of other acquired deformities of limbs (M21) and specifying the cause if known.
References
(1) ICD-10-CM Code for Foot drop (acquired) M21.37 – AAPC.
(2) 2023 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M21.371: Foot drop, right foot.
(3) 2023 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M21.372: Foot drop, left foot.
(4) (2022) How To Code Foot Drop ICD 10 – Coding Ahead.
(5) Foot drop – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic.
FAQs
Q: What is drop foot?
A: Drop foot is a condition that affects the ability to lift the front part of the foot. It can cause difficulty walking, tripping, and falling.
Q: What are the symptoms of a drop foot?
A: The main symptom of a drop foot is the inability to lift the front part of the foot. This can result in dragging the toes along the ground or lifting the whole leg to avoid tripping. Some people may also experience numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the affected foot or leg.
Q: What are the causes of drop foot?
A: Drop foot is caused by weakness or paralysis of the muscles involved in lifting the front part of the foot. These muscles are controlled by a nerve called the peroneal nerve, which can be damaged by various factors, such as compression, injury, disease, or trauma.
Q: What is the Drop foot ICD 10 Code and How to code it?
A: Drop foot can be coded in ICD-10 using codes from the category of other acquired deformities of limbs (M21) and specifying the cause if known. For example, M21.37 for acquired foot drop, M21.371 for right foot drop, M21.372 for left foot drop, etc.
Q: What is ICD-10?
A: ICD-10 is a system of codes that classify diseases and health problems for medical records and billing purposes. It stands for International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision.