2025 ICD-10-CM code R68.3
Clubbing of fingers or nails.
The medical necessity for investigating clubbing is determined by the underlying condition. As clubbing can be a sign of serious underlying illnesses, it is important to identify the cause to ensure appropriate treatment and management.
Clinicians should evaluate patients presenting with clubbing to determine the underlying cause. This may involve a detailed medical history, physical examination, and further investigations such as blood tests, imaging studies, or pulmonary function tests depending on the suspected etiology.
- Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
- General symptoms and signs (R50-R69)
In simple words: Clubbing is a change in the shape of your fingernails or toenails.The tips of your fingers or toes may get larger and the nails curve downwards. This can be a sign of an underlying health problem.
Clubbing of fingers or nails.This condition involves a thickening of the tissues under the fingernails and toenails, causing the nails to curve downward. It can be a sign of various underlying medical conditions.
Example 1: A 45-year-old male presents to his physician with a gradual onset of clubbing in his fingers and toes over several months. He also reports shortness of breath and a chronic cough. After further investigation, he is diagnosed with lung cancer., A 30-year-old female with a history of congenital heart disease is found to have clubbing during a routine physical examination. This finding warrants further investigation to assess the current status of her heart condition., A 60-year-old male with a long history of smoking presents to his physician with clubbing, chronic cough, and weight loss.Further investigation leads to a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Documentation should include a detailed description of the clubbing, noting the affected digits and the degree of nail curvature. Associated symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, or cyanosis should also be documented. The results of any investigations performed to determine the underlying cause should also be included.
** Excludes1: congenital clubfinger (Q68.1). Excludes2: abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-) certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96) signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5)
- Specialties:Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Cardiology, Pulmonology, Pediatrics
- Place of Service:Office, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital