Rheumatology Coding Corner Question: Coding for Acute Flare of Idiopathic Gout

It has been two months since the implementation of ICD-10, so everyone has gotten a feel for the new code set. Let’s see how well you are doing in your diagnosis coding for rheumatology-specific conditions.

1. A 55-year-old female patient presents for a follow-up visit of idiopathic chronic gout of multiple joints without tophi. She complains of severe swelling, tenderness and sharp pain in her left ankle. The rheumatologist diagnoses the patient with an acute flare of idiopathic gout of the left ankle.
   How is this coded?
   1. M1A.0720
   2. M10.09
   3. M10.072
   4. M1A.09X0, M10.072
2. A 50-year-old patient presents for treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. She reports pain and stiffness in the lumbar region of her back.
   How is this coded?
   1. M45.6
   2. M43.26
   3. M45.7
   4. M43.06
3. A 45-year-old female patient presents with premature osteoporosis.
   How is this coded?
   1. M80.80XA, Z87.310
   2. M81.8, Z87.310
   3. M80.80XD, Z87.310
   4. M81.8
4. A 28-year-old man presents with pain in his upper left arm.
   How is this coded?
   1. M79.602
   2. M79.621
   3. M79.622
   4. M79.632
5. A 68-year-old patient presents with bilateral primary osteoarthritis of the hips and primary osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, right elbow and right wrist.
   How is this coded?
   1. M15.0, M16.0
   2. M16.0, M19.011, M19.021, M19.031
   3. M16.0, M19.91
   4. None of the above

Click here for the answers.