Other infective bursitis, unspecified ankle and foot

This code describes an inflammatory condition of a bursa in the ankle or foot region that is caused by an infection, but the specific type of infection is not documented. It indicates the presence of an infected bursa without further specification of the causative organism or the exact anatomical location within the ankle or foot.

Use this code when documentation clearly states "infective bursitis" of the ankle or foot, and the laterality (right or left) is not specified. This code is appropriate when the provider has not identified the specific pathogen (e.g., bacterial, fungal) causing the infection. It is also used when the exact bursa involved (e.g., retrocalcaneal, pre-Achilles) is not documented.

• Avoid using this code if the laterality (right or left ankle/foot) is documented; instead, select the more specific code.
• Do not use this code if the specific infectious agent is known; instead, code the specific infection with an additional code for the bursitis.
• Query the provider for laterality and specific bursa if possible to allow for more precise coding.