(2022) How To Code Leg Length Discrepancy ICD 10 – List With Codes & Guidelines
This article will outline the causes, symptoms, treatment and the ICD 10 CM code for Leg Length Discrepancy.
Leg Length Discrepancy ICD 10 Causes
ALeg Length Discrepancy ICD 10 is when a child has one leg shorter than the other. The difference in length can range from a fraction of an inch to several inches.
The greater the difference in leg length, the more the child has to change its normal posture and walking behaviour.
Certain bone diseases can cause discrepancies in the limbs, including neurofibromatosis, multiple hereditary exostosis and Ollier disease. In some cases, the cause of the discrepancy in limbs may be idiopathic or unknown.
Other causes of the discrepancy in limbs are neurological disorders or conditions that cause inflammation of joint growth, such as juvenile arthritis.
Breaking a child’s bone at the growth plate at the end of the bone can lead to slower growth, resulting in shorter legs. This is especially true when bone infections that occur in adolescent children occur in infancy.
These infections can cause significant differences in the length of the limbs. This is particularly true in cases where the inside and outside of the legs are underdeveloped or one side of the body is partially overgrown.
These conditions can occur at birth when the difference in length of the limbs is too small to be detected. As the child grows, the difference increases and becomes clearer.
In children with ICD-10-related foot and knee problems (e.g. Underdevelopment of one or two too short bones in the knee or ankle.
Hemihypertrophy with one side larger and hemiatrophy with one side smaller is a rare condition that causes discrepancies in limb length. In patients with this disease, the arms and legs of one side of the body are shorter than the arms or legs of the other.
In some cases, the exact cause of this disease cannot be determined. The difference between the two sides of the face (i.e.
Leg Length Discrepancy ICD 10 Symptoms
Leg Length Discrepancy ICD 10 can lead to a variety of symptoms such as functional scoliosis, hip, knee and ankle conditions. Broken leg bones can also lead to deviations of the limbs, especially if the broken leg bone heals in a shortened position.
This is most likely when the bone is broken into many parts. This type of overgrowth can occur in young children with femur or femur fractures. In some children, the broken bone can grow for several years after healing, turning it into a bone on the opposite side.
This is more likely when skin, muscle tissue or bones are injured and exposed, as is the case with open fractures.
Leg Length Discrepancy ICD 10 Treatment
If theLeg Length Discrepancy ICD 10 is between 2 and 5 centimetres is expected, the child is doing well and growing normally, but the growth of the longer legs may be slower than that of the shorter legs to catch up.
If the doctor assumes that the difference is greater than 2 centimetres, surgery may be recommended. Patients should feel comfortable with this plan and be aware of changes. If it is mild, less than 2 inches (about 2 centimeters), shoes or a lift can be used.
Another option is an outpatient procedure. Instead of surgery to stop the growth, a growth plate can be placed on the surgical plate, which will slow the growth.
Extension is a major operation in which the bone on the shorter side is cut and lengthened with a device. It is performed with a device on the outside of the leg (here it is implanted into the leg).
The difference should be about 5 centimetres on the short side of the extended bone. This process can take months before the patient can walk or go to school without too much treatment.
Depending on the cause, a discrepancy in leg length can be diagnosed in infants and in childhood. In older children, the discrepancy between leg lengths is usually suspected by parents and pediatricians when limping seems to get worse.
The standard treatment for leg length differences is a thorough physical examination that observes the child walking or running with all three joints standing, as well as X-rays and X-ray scanograms to determine the actual length of the bones in the leg.
An orthopaedic surgeon will use measurements and imaging to determine how large the discrepancy is and how the child is doing in adulthood, and this will help determine the best treatment plan for the child.
ICD 10 Code For Leg Length Discrepancy
ICD 10 CM M21.769 Unequal limb length (acquired) unspecified tibia and fibula
ICD 10 CM M21.7 Unequal limb length (acquired)
ICD 10 CM M21.751 Unequal limb length (acquired) right femur
ICD 10 CM M21.752 Unequal limb length (acquired) left femur
ICD 10 CM M21.759 Unequal limb length (acquired) unspecified femur
ICD 10 CM M21.761 Unequal limb length (acquired) right tibia
ICD 10 CM M21.762 Unequal limb length (acquired) left tibia
ICD 10 CM M21.763 Unequal limb length (acquired) right fibula
ICD 10 CM M21.764 Unequal limb length (acquired) left fibula
ICD 10 CM M21.769 Unequal limb length (acquired) unspecified tibia and fibula