ICD-10 Guide

Avulsion Nail

ICD-10 Coding for Avulsion Nail(S90.211A, S91.2)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYPodiatry

COMPLEXITYHigh

LAST UPDATED09/15/2025

Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Avulsion Nail?

Essential facts and insights about Avulsion Nail

Key Clinical Considerations:

Separation of the nail from the nail bed, pain, swelling, and possible bleeding.
Nail bed examination may reveal trauma, and imaging may be used to assess underlying bone injury.
Physical exam may show tenderness at the nail bed, visible avulsion, and signs of infection.

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Document the mechanism of injury, extent of nail involvement, and any associated injuries.
Use specific terms like 'partial avulsion' or 'complete avulsion' for clarity.
Examples include detailed descriptions of the injury, treatment provided, and follow-up care.

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Follow guidelines for coding nail injuries to avoid miscoding.
Common errors include using incorrect codes for nail bed injuries.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Nail dystrophies, fungal infections, and other nail disorders.
Alternative codes may include those for nail bed lacerations or infections.

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Podiatry

Specialty Applications

Patients with traumatic nail injuries, particularly athletes or individuals in high-risk occupations.
Clinical settings include urgent care, emergency departments, and podiatry clinics.

Coding Complexity

High Complexity

This diagnosis requires careful attention to:

Comprehensive clinical documentation
Accurate code selection based on clinical criteria
Proper exclusion considerations
Specialty-specific coding guidelines

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Ensure proper documentation for billing
Verify code specificity requirements
Check for any additional codes needed
Review payer-specific guidelines

Common Issues

Insufficient clinical documentation
Incorrect code selection
Missing supporting diagnoses
Timing and frequency documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Include details of the injury, treatment plan, and follow-up instructions.

Billing considerations?

Ensure accurate coding to reflect the severity and treatment provided.

Avulsion Nail

Diagnosis Overview

Key Clinical Considerations:

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Specialty Applications

Coding Complexity

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Billing considerations?

Avulsion Nail

Diagnosis Overview

Key Clinical Considerations:

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Specialty Applications

Coding Complexity

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Billing considerations?