ICD-10 Code for Right Groin Pain
The ICD-10 code for right groin pain is R10.31 (right lower quadrant abdominal pain).
Primary Code Selection
R10.31 is the appropriate ICD-10 code for right groin pain, as groin pain is anatomically classified under right lower quadrant abdominal pain in the ICD-10 coding system 1.
The groin region falls within the right lower quadrant anatomically, and ICD-10 uses anatomic location-based coding for non-specific pain complaints 1.
Alternative Codes to Consider Based on Clinical Context
If the clinical evaluation identifies a specific underlying cause, more specific codes should be used instead:
M25.551 - Pain in right hip (if the pain is clearly hip-related rather than groin-specific) 1.
M79.651 - Pain in right thigh (if the pain extends to the thigh region) 1.
M25.559 - Pain in unspecified hip (if laterality is uncertain) 1.
S39.848A - Other specified injuries of external genitals, initial encounter (if trauma-related).
Important Coding Considerations
ICD-10 requires greater anatomic specificity than ICD-9, with laterality (right vs. left) being mandatory for most musculoskeletal and pain codes 2, 3, 4.
The transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 significantly changed pain coding, with ICD-10 providing more detailed diagnostic categories that are more informative for clinical use and resource allocation 3.
Accuracy in ICD-10 coding is critical as studies demonstrate that ICD-10 codes can be less accurate than ICD-9 codes for certain conditions, requiring careful attention to proper code selection 5.
Clinical Pitfalls
Avoid using non-specific codes like R52.2 ("other chronic pain") when anatomic localization is possible, as this was overused in ICD-9 and provides minimal clinical information 3.
Do not confuse groin pain with hip pain - while they may coexist, hip-related pain can be difficult to distinguish from other causes of groin pain and may require different coding 1.
If imaging or clinical evaluation reveals specific pathology (such as inguinal hernia, femoral hernia, lymphadenopathy, or musculoskeletal injury), use the specific diagnostic code rather than the symptom code 1.