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ICD-10 Coding for Urethral Stenosis(N35.011, N35.113)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Urethral Stenosis. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Urethral StrictureUrethral Narrowing

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Urethral Stenosis

N35-N36Primary Range

Urethral stricture and other urethral disorders

This range includes all codes related to urethral strictures, both traumatic and non-traumatic.

Postprocedural disorders of genitourinary system

Includes postprocedural urethral strictures, relevant for coding complications after surgical interventions.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
N35.011Post-traumatic bulbous urethral stricture, maleUse for male patients with a confirmed bulbous urethral stricture due to trauma.
  • Retrograde urethrogram showing bulbous narrowing
  • History of trauma
N35.113Postinfective membranous stricture, maleUse for male patients with a confirmed membranous urethral stricture following infection.
  • History of gonococcal urethritis
  • Uroflowmetry showing Qmax ≤10 mL/sec

Clinical Decision Support

Always review the patient's clinical documentation thoroughly. When in doubt, choose the more specific code and ensure documentation supports it.

Key Information: ICD-10 code for urethral stenosis

Essential facts and insights about Urethral Stenosis

The ICD-10 code for urethral stenosis depends on the specific type, such as N35.011 for post-traumatic bulbous stricture.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for urethral stenosis

Post-traumatic bulbous urethral stricture, male
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Confirmed bulbous urethral narrowing on imaging

Applicable To

  • Stricture due to trauma in the bulbous urethra

Excludes

  • Non-traumatic urethral stricture

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Retrograde urethrogram showing bulbous narrowing
  • History of trauma

Code-Specific Risks

  • Incorrect gender assignment
  • Lack of trauma documentation

Coding Notes

  • Ensure trauma is documented in the patient's history.

Ancillary Codes

Additional codes that should be used in conjunction with the main diagnosis codes when applicable.

Other difficulty urinating

R39.19
Use to document symptoms supporting the primary diagnosis.

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions to the primary diagnosis.

Postinfective membranous stricture, male

N35.113
Requires history of infection and membranous location confirmation.

Post-traumatic bulbous urethral stricture, male

N35.011
Requires history of trauma and bulbous location confirmation.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Urethral Stenosis to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code N35.011.

Impact

Clinical: Leads to inadequate treatment plans., Regulatory: Increases audit risk., Financial: Results in denied claims.

Mitigation Strategy

Always specify stricture location and cause., Use detailed documentation templates.

Impact

Reimbursement: May lead to reduced reimbursement due to lack of specificity., Compliance: Increases risk of audit due to non-specific coding., Data Quality: Decreases data quality and accuracy in patient records.

Mitigation Strategy

Specify the location and cause of the stricture to use a more specific code.

Impact

Using unspecified codes increases audit risk.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure all documentation includes specific details about the stricture.

Documentation errors, coding pitfalls, and audit risks are interconnected aspects of medical coding and billing. Addressing all three areas helps ensure accurate coding, optimal reimbursement, and regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ICD-10 coding for Urethral Stenosis, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Urethral Stenosis

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Urethral Stenosis. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Urology Progress Note

Specialty: Urology

Required Elements

  • Patient history
  • Uroflowmetry results
  • Imaging findings

Example Documentation

45M with 6-month history of weak stream (Qmax 8 mL/sec). Cystoscopy reveals 2cm dense stricture in bulbar urethra. No prior catheterization. Plan: Optilume dilation.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Urethral stenosis noted.
Good Documentation Example
Post-traumatic bulbous urethral stricture confirmed by retrograde urethrogram showing 5mm lumen narrowing.
Explanation
The good example provides specific location and etiology, supporting accurate coding.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Urethral Stenosis? Ask your questions below.

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