ICD-10 Guide

Bunion

ICD-10 Coding for Bunion(M20.11, M21.611)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYOrthopedic Surgery

COMPLEXITYHigh

LAST UPDATED09/15/2025

Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Bunion?

Essential facts and insights about Bunion

Key Clinical Considerations:

Pain and tenderness at the base of the big toe
Swelling and redness around the joint
Deformity of the big toe (hallux valgus)
Limited range of motion in the big toe

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Patient history including onset and duration of symptoms
Physical examination findings including foot alignment
Imaging results (X-rays) showing joint displacement
Assessment of functional limitations

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Follow usage guidelines for accurate coding based on severity and laterality.
Common errors include incorrect laterality and not documenting the severity of symptoms.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Other foot deformities (e.g., hammer toe)
Codes for arthritis affecting the big toe joint

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Orthopedic Surgery

Specialty Applications

Adults and adolescents with foot deformities
Orthopedic clinics and podiatry practices

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

What are the documentation requirements?

Include patient history, physical exam findings, and imaging results.

What are the billing considerations?

Ensure accurate coding based on the side affected and document all relevant findings.

Bunion

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

What are the documentation requirements?

What are the billing considerations?

Bunion

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

What are the documentation requirements?

What are the billing considerations?