Inflammatory condition of the peroneal tendons (peroneus longus and/or brevis) localized to the left lower leg, classified as an enthesopathy of the lower limb excluding the foot.

Documentation tips

What should appear in the chart to support M76.72.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 6 cited references ↓

• Explicitly state 'left' peroneal tendinitis in the assessment — unspecified laterality forces a drop to M76.70, which is less specific and may trigger payer queries.
• Record tenderness location precisely: posterior to the lateral malleolus along the peroneal tendon sheath, with findings on resisted eversion or single-leg heel raise.
• Document imaging results when obtained: MRI tendinosis grade, tendon thickening on ultrasound, or absence of a full-thickness tear — this distinguishes tendinitis from rupture and supports medical necessity.
• Note chronicity and conservative care history (physical therapy, bracing, activity modification) if the encounter is for ongoing management or a procedure referral.
• If bilateral, document both sides explicitly so that both M76.71 and M76.72 can be reported — a single unspecified code will underrepresent the clinical picture.

Related CPT procedures

Procedure codes commonly billed with M76.72. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.

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

Common coding pitfalls

The recurring mistakes coders make with M76.72 and adjacent codes.

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

• Defaulting to M76.70 (unspecified leg) when laterality is clearly documented — always check the note for 'left' before dropping specificity.
• Using M76.72 for acute traumatic peroneal tendon injuries; acute injuries require an S86.3xx code with the appropriate 7th-character extension, not an M-code.
• Confusing peroneal tendinitis with posterior tibial tendinitis — these are anatomically distinct tendons on opposite sides of the ankle; posterior tibial tendinitis codes to M76.82x.
• Coding M76.72 when the record documents a peroneal tendon tear rather than tendinitis — tears map to S86.3 (traumatic) or M66.27x (spontaneous rupture), not M76.72.
• Failing to append a second code (M76.71) when both legs are affected, leaving bilateral disease captured only as unilateral.

Clinical context

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 6 cited references ↓

Sibling codes

Other billable codes under M76.7 (laterality / anatomic variants).