September 10, 2015
Question:
I noticed that the ICD-10 carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis codes are specific for right and left. What happens if the patient has bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome – how should I code it?
Answer:
Good question, because many ICD-10-CM codes have right, left and bilateral codes; although the codes for carpal tunnel syndrome do not have a bilateral option. Here’s what we’ve got in ICD-10-CM for carpal tunnel syndrome:
G56.01 Carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper limb
G56.02 Carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper limb
But there is not a code for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. So if the patient has bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, you will use both ICD-10-CM codes: G56.01 and G56.02.
*This response is based on the best information available as of 09/10/15.