M72.2

M72.2 covers fibroblastic thickening of the plantar fascia, encompassing both plantar fascial fibromatosis (Ledderhose disease, with palpable nodules) and the far more common plantar fasciitis.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 8 sources ↓

Status: Billable
Chapter: 13
Related CPT: 14
Region: Foot & ankle

Drawn from CDCICD10DataAAPCTebraEzmedpro

Documentation tips

What should appear in the chart to support M72.2.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 8 cited references ↓

Record the exact physician-documented diagnosis term — 'plantar fasciitis,' 'plantar fascial fibromatosis,' or 'Ledderhose disease' — in the assessment; all map to M72.2.
Note laterality (right, left, or bilateral) in the clinical note even though M72.2 has no laterality subcode — payers and audit reviewers expect side documentation.
For fibromatosis presentations, document nodule characteristics: location on the plantar fascia, approximate size by palpation or imaging, and whether it is fixed or mobile.
When ordering ultrasound or MRI, document the clinical indication (palpable nodule, failed empirical treatment, rule out tear or neoplasm) to support medical necessity under CMS nonvascular extremity ultrasound LCD.
For surgical cases, document duration and nature of failed conservative care (minimum six months of non-operative treatment) before coding M72.2 as the diagnosis supporting fasciotomy or fascia release.
Code heel spurs separately with M77.30–M77.32 when documented; do not assume M72.2 captures calcaneal spur pathology.
For injection encounters, link M72.2 directly to CPT 20550 on the claim; do not substitute a symptom code (e.g., foot pain) once the diagnosis is established.

Related CPT procedures

Procedure codes commonly billed with M72.2. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.

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

20550 $60.46

Injection into a single tendon sheath, ligament, or aponeurosis (such as the plantar fascia) — one anatomical site per unit.

20551 $60.46

Injection of a therapeutic substance into the origin or insertion point of a single tendon, used to treat tendinitis, enthesopathy, or localized inflammation at the bone-tendon junction.

73630 $34.07

Radiologic examination of the foot requiring a minimum of three views, used to evaluate fractures, arthritis, tumors, or structural abnormalities.

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.

28119 $530.41

Surgical removal of a calcaneal bone spur, with or without release of the plantar fascia performed during the same operative session.

28120 $686.72

Partial excision of the talus or calcaneus using craterization, saucerization, sequestrectomy, or diaphysectomy techniques, performed for osteomyelitis or bony overgrowth (bossing).

99213 $95.19

Established patient office or outpatient visit requiring 20–29 minutes of total time or low-complexity medical decision-making.

99214 $135.61

Office visit for an established patient requiring moderate-complexity medical decision making (MDM), or 30–39 minutes of total provider time on the date of service.

99203 $117.57

New patient office or outpatient visit requiring a medically appropriate history and/or examination with low-complexity medical decision-making, or 30–44 minutes of total provider time on the date of the encounter.

99204 $177.36

New patient office or outpatient visit requiring moderate medical decision making, or 45–59 minutes of total provider time on the date of the encounter.

76881 View procedure details

76882 View procedure details

97530 View procedure details

11900 View procedure details

Common coding pitfalls

The recurring mistakes coders make with M72.2 and adjacent codes.

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

Using a heel pain symptom code (M79.671–M79.672) instead of M72.2 after plantar fasciitis has been formally diagnosed — symptom codes are inappropriate once a definitive diagnosis is documented.
Billing M77.30–M77.32 (calcaneal spur) when the provider documented plantar fasciitis: heel spur and plantar fasciitis are distinct diagnoses; code what is documented, and code both separately when both are present.
Assuming M72.2 requires a seventh character — it does not; adding any extension creates an invalid code.
Conflating plantar fascial fibromatosis (M72.2) with palmar fascial fibromatosis/Dupuytren's contracture (M72.0) — these are separate codes for distinct anatomic sites.
Coding M72.2 for a suspected plantar plate tear or systemic inflammatory arthropathy affecting the foot — those require separate codes and M72.2 does not cover them.
Failing to add secondary codes for comorbidities (obesity, diabetes) that affect medical necessity for ongoing therapy or orthotics — M72.2 alone may not satisfy payer criteria without the full clinical picture.

Clinical context

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 8 cited references ↓

M72.2 is the single billable code for both plantar fasciitis and plantar fascial fibromatosis — the ICD-10-CM tabular lists plantar fasciitis as an 'Applicable To' inclusion under this code. Use it regardless of whether the presentation is classic heel pain with morning first-step pain (plantar fasciitis) or nodular arch thickening (Ledderhose disease/plantar fibromatosis). ICD-10-CM provides no separate code to distinguish between the two clinical entities, and no laterality subcode exists — M72.2 covers unilateral and bilateral cases equally.

M72.2 carries no acuity distinction: acute and chronic presentations share the same code, and no seventh-character extension is required. When associated conditions are present — heel spurs (M77.30–M77.32), obesity, or diabetes — code those separately; they are not captured by M72.2. Heel spurs are explicitly a different diagnosis and require their own code; do not assume M72.2 covers calcaneal spur pathology.

For imaging-confirmed fibromatosis, ultrasound or MRI findings (nodule size, hypoechoic fusiform morphology, fascia thickness) belong in the documentation record and support medical necessity for procedures billed under M72.2. For straightforward plantar fasciitis, clinical diagnosis is sufficient — imaging is not required to support the code but strengthens audit defense when ordered.

Inclusion & exclusion notes

Per the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List.

Source · CDC ICD-10-CM Official Tabular List · 2026

Includes

Plantar fasciitis

Sibling codes

Other billable codes under M72 (laterality / anatomic variants).

M72.4

Pseudosarcomatous fibromatosis

M72.6

Necrotizing fasciitis

M72.9

Fibroblastic disorder, unspecified

M72.8

Other fibroblastic disorders

M72.0

Palmar fascial fibromatosis [Dupuytren]

M72.1

Knuckle pads

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 8 cited references ↓

01Is M72.2 the correct code for plantar fasciitis, or is there a more specific code?

M72.2 is the correct and only billable ICD-10-CM code for plantar fasciitis. The tabular lists plantar fasciitis as an 'Applicable To' inclusion under plantar fascial fibromatosis. There is no separate laterality subcode and no acuity variant — M72.2 is the complete code for all plantar fasciitis and plantar fibromatosis presentations.

02Does M72.2 cover both the right and left foot, or do I need separate codes for bilateral cases?

M72.2 covers unilateral and bilateral presentations with a single code. No laterality subcodes exist for this condition. Document the affected side(s) in the clinical note, but bill M72.2 once regardless of whether one or both feet are involved.

03Should I code a heel spur with M72.2 when both are documented?

Yes — code both separately. M72.2 does not capture calcaneal spur pathology. Use M77.31 (right), M77.32 (left), or M77.30 (unspecified) alongside M72.2 when the provider documents both diagnoses.

04What CPT code pairs with M72.2 for a corticosteroid injection into the plantar fascia?

CPT 20550 (injection, single tendon sheath, or ligament, aponeurosis) is the correct code for a plantar fascia injection billed with M72.2. CPT 20551 applies to calcaneal spur injections; if both structures are injected in one session, CMS guidance directs use of a single CPT 20551.

05Does M72.2 require a seventh-character extension like injury S-codes do?

No. M72.2 is an M-code under Chapter 13 and does not use seventh-character extensions. The code is complete as five characters. Adding any extension creates an invalid code that will reject on claim submission.

06When is imaging required to support M72.2?

For classic plantar fasciitis, clinical diagnosis supports M72.2 without mandatory imaging. For plantar fascial fibromatosis (nodular presentation), ultrasound or MRI confirmation of nodular thickening strengthens medical necessity — particularly when billing diagnostic imaging CPT 76881 or 76882 alongside M72.2, or when planning injection or surgical intervention.

07Can M72.2 be used on both initial and follow-up encounters?

Yes. M72.2 is valid for new patient visits, follow-up visits, and procedural encounters alike. No encounter-type restriction applies, and there is no seventh-character mechanism to distinguish initial from subsequent encounters for this code.

Sources & references

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

Mira AI Scribe

Mira captures the physician's documented diagnosis term (plantar fasciitis or plantar fascial fibromatosis), affected side, nodule characteristics if present, imaging findings (ultrasound/MRI nodule size and morphology), and history of conservative treatment — preventing downcoding to a nonspecific symptom code, unsupported use of heel spur codes, and missing comorbidity linkage that supports medical necessity.

See how Mira captures M72.2 documentation