What is the ICD-10 code for paronychia?

The ICD-10 code for paronychia is typically L03.031 for cellulitis of the right finger, or L03.032 for the right toe, depending on the location.

How do you code diabetic paronychia?

For diabetic paronychia, code E11.621 for diabetes with foot ulcer first, followed by L03.031 for cellulitis of the affected area.

ICD-10 Coding for Paronychia(L03.031, B37.2, B95.61)

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Explore the ICD-10 coding guidelines for paronychia, including acute and chronic cases, with specific documentation requirements and coding tips.

Also known as:

Nail infectionPerionychia

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Paronychia

L00-L99Primary Range

Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue

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Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

Code	Description	When to Use	Key Documentation
L03.031	Cellulitis of right finger	Use for acute bacterial paronychia of the right finger.	Erythema swelling and purulent drainage Positive bacterial culture
L03.039	Cellulitis of unspecified finger	Use when the specific finger is not documented.	Erythema swelling and purulent drainage Positive bacterial culture
B37.2	Candidiasis of skin and nails	Use for chronic paronychia with confirmed fungal infection.	Positive KOH microscopy Fungal culture confirmation

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes

Cellulitis of right toe

L03.031Billable

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions

Candidiasis of skin and nailsB37.2

Use when fungal infection is confirmed.

Cellulitis of right fingerL03.031

Use when right finger is specified.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common issues when documenting Paronychia.

Failure to document culture results

Impact

Clinical: May lead to inappropriate treatment, Regulatory: Non-compliance with documentation standards, Financial: Potential denial of claims

Mitigation

Always document culture results in the patient's record, Include culture results in procedure notes

Using L03.039 for a specified finger

Impact

Reimbursement: May lead to lower reimbursement due to lack of specificity, Compliance: Non-compliance with ICD-10 specificity requirements, Data Quality: Decreased accuracy in clinical data

Mitigation

Use L03.031 or L03.032 based on laterality

Procedure coding

Impact

Incorrect use of CPT codes for procedures

Mitigation

Verify procedure documentation matches CPT code used

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements, coding pitfalls and FAQs for conditions coded with L03.031.

Primary Code

L03.031

Cellulitis of right toe

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ICD-10 codes8

Coding risks3

FAQs2

ICD-10 Coding for Paronychia(L03.031, B37.2, B95.61)

Documentation & Coding Risks

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ICD-10 code for paronychia?

How do you code diabetic paronychia?

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