ICD-10-CM · Hand

M70.10

Bursal inflammation of the hand without documented laterality — used when the provider has not specified right or left side in the clinical record.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 4 sources ↓

Status: Billable
Chapter: 13
Related CPT: 7
Region: Hand

Drawn from CDCICD10DataAAPC

Documentation tips

What should appear in the chart to support M70.10.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 4 cited references ↓

Document laterality explicitly (right or left hand) at every encounter — this lets you upgrade to M70.11 or M70.12 and avoids unspecified-code audit flags.
Note the causative activity or occupation (e.g., repetitive gripping, tool vibration) to satisfy M70's occupational-origin Includes note and support a Y93.- external cause code.
Record imaging results — ultrasound or MRI findings confirming bursal distension, fluid, or synovial thickening directly support medical necessity for procedures like aspiration or injection.
Distinguish bursitis from tenosynovitis or crepitant synovitis in the assessment; they carry different ICD-10 codes and different CPT pairings.
If conservative care (splinting, NSAIDs, activity modification) has been tried, document duration and response to establish necessity for any planned intervention.

Related CPT procedures

Procedure codes commonly billed with M70.10. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.

Source · CMS LCDs · AAOS specialty guidance · claims-pattern analysis

26991 $744.84

Incision and drainage of an infected bursa located in the pelvis or hip joint area, performed to evacuate purulent material and resolve infection.

20610 $68.81

Aspiration and/or injection of a major joint or bursa (shoulder, hip, knee, or subacromial bursa) performed without ultrasound guidance.

20600 $56.11

Needle aspiration and/or injection of a small joint or bursa — such as a finger or toe joint — performed without ultrasound guidance.

73130 $38.08

Radiographic examination of the hand requiring a minimum of three views.

97110 $29.06

Therapeutic exercise billed per 15-minute unit, targeting strength, endurance, range of motion, or flexibility with direct one-on-one patient contact.

76881 View procedure details

97530 View procedure details

Common coding pitfalls

The recurring mistakes coders make with M70.10 and adjacent codes.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CDC ICD-10-CM tabular guidance, AAOS coding references, and cited references ↓

Using M70.10 when laterality is documented elsewhere in the chart — always audit the full note before defaulting to unspecified; payers can flag M70.10 as undercoded when a prior claim used M70.11 or M70.12.
Confusing M70.10 with M71.9x (Bursitis NOS) — an Excludes1 note means they cannot be coded simultaneously; M70.10 is appropriate only when the bursitis is linked to use, overuse, or pressure, not as a generic bursitis NOS.
Omitting the Y93.- external cause code when the activity causing the disorder is documented — it is a 'use additional code' instruction at the M70 category level.
Coding M70.10 for shoulder bursitis — M75.5 is the correct code; bursitis of the shoulder is an Excludes2 exclusion from M70.

Clinical context

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 4 cited references ↓

M70.10 is the fallback code within the M70.1 (Bursitis of hand) family when laterality is absent from documentation. The M70.1x series contains three billable options: M70.10 (unspecified), M70.11 (right), and M70.12 (left). Use M70.10 only when the operative note, SOAP note, or imaging report genuinely omits side — not as a convenience code when the chart is ambiguous but laterality can be queried.

M70 covers soft tissue disorders of occupational or activity-related origin. An important Excludes1 note bars M70.10 when bursitis NOS is the intent — that routes to M71.9x instead. Bursitis of the shoulder is separately classified under M75.5 and must not be coded here. When the causative activity is known, add an external cause code from Y93.- to identify the activity driving the disorder.

In orthopedic practice, hand bursitis most commonly involves the dorsal or palmar bursae and is often linked to repetitive gripping, tool use, or direct pressure — occupational context matters both clinically and for coding. If the encounter documents a specific occupational trigger, the M70 Includes note ('soft tissue disorders of occupational origin') confirms this is the correct category. Ultrasound or MRI confirming bursal distension with or without synovial thickening supports medical necessity and distinguishes bursitis from tenosynovitis (M65.9x) or crepitant synovitis (M70.04x).

Sibling codes

Other billable codes under M70.1 (laterality / anatomic variants).

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 4 cited references ↓

01When is M70.10 appropriate instead of M70.11 or M70.12?

Use M70.10 only when the provider's documentation genuinely does not specify right or left hand. If laterality appears anywhere in the chart — physical exam, imaging report, or prior notes — use M70.11 (right) or M70.12 (left) instead.

02Is M70.10 the same as M71.9 (Bursitis NOS)?

No. An Excludes1 note at the M70 category level prohibits coding M70.10 and M71.9x together. M70.10 implies a use, overuse, or pressure mechanism; M71.9x is bursitis without a specified cause or site link. Pick the one that matches the documented etiology.

03Do I need an external cause code with M70.10?

The M70 category carries a 'use additional code' instruction for Y93.- to identify the activity causing the disorder. When the activity is documented — assembly work, sports, tool use — add the applicable Y93 code. It is not required when the activity is unknown, but it improves specificity.

04Can M70.10 be used for shoulder bursitis?

No. Bursitis of the shoulder is coded to M75.5, which is listed as an Excludes2 condition under M70. These codes can coexist on the same claim only if the patient has a separate, distinct shoulder bursitis diagnosis at a different site.

05What CPT codes commonly pair with M70.10 in an orthopedic hand practice?

Aspiration or injection of a small joint (20600) or intermediate joint (20605) is the most common procedural pair. Diagnostic ultrasound (76881) or plain film of the hand (73130) may accompany the diagnosis code. Physical therapy CPT codes 97110 or 97530 appear when conservative management is billed.

06How does M70.10 differ from M70.04x (crepitant synovitis of the hand)?

M70.04x describes crepitant synovitis — inflammation of the synovial lining with a palpable crepitus — while M70.10 describes bursal inflammation. The physical exam and imaging findings distinguish them; do not use them interchangeably.

Sources & references

Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.

01CDC ICD-10-CM Tabular List 2026 (effective Oct 1, 2025)
02
icd10data.com
https://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes/M00-M99/M70-M79/M70-/M70.10
03
aapc.com
https://www.aapc.com/codes/icd-10-codes/M70.10
04
aapc.com
https://www.aapc.com/codes/icd-10-codes/M70.1

Mira AI Scribe

Mira captures hand side (right/left), affected bursa location, symptom duration, occupational or activity trigger, and any imaging findings (ultrasound/MRI bursal fluid, distension). This documentation lets the coder assign the laterality-specific M70.11 or M70.12 instead of M70.10, eliminating the unspecified-code audit flag and supporting medical necessity for aspiration or injection claims.

See how Mira captures M70.10 documentation