From the Research
The billing code for shoulder impingement syndrome is typically ICD-10 code M75.4 (Impingement syndrome of shoulder). For more specific documentation, you may use M75.41 for right shoulder impingement, M75.42 for left shoulder impingement, or M75.40 if the affected side is unspecified. When billing for treatment procedures, common CPT codes include 29826 for arthroscopic subacromial decompression, 97110 for therapeutic exercises, 97140 for manual therapy, or 20610 for corticosteroid injection into the shoulder joint.
Key Considerations for Coding and Treatment
- Documentation should clearly establish the diagnosis through physical examination findings such as positive Neer or Hawkins tests, pain with overhead activities, and any imaging results that support the diagnosis.
- For complete reimbursement, ensure your documentation includes the specific shoulder affected, severity of symptoms, functional limitations, and detailed treatment plan.
- This specificity is necessary because shoulder impingement represents a mechanical compression of the rotator cuff tendons beneath the acromion, requiring precise identification for proper coding and treatment planning, as discussed in recent studies 1.
Treatment Approaches
- The mainstay of treatment includes physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and injections, with surgical treatment reserved for refractory cases 1.
- A study comparing subacromial corticosteroid injection with manual physical therapy for the management of unilateral shoulder impingement syndrome found both groups demonstrated significant improvement, but the manual physical therapy group used less healthcare resources 2.
Coding for Specific Procedures
- Common CPT codes for treatment procedures include:
- 29826 for arthroscopic subacromial decompression
- 97110 for therapeutic exercises
- 97140 for manual therapy
- 20610 for corticosteroid injection into the shoulder joint It's essential to prioritize the most recent and highest quality study, which in this case is 1, to guide coding and treatment decisions for shoulder impingement syndrome.