2025 ICD-10-CM code S85.1
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Injury - Injuries to the knee and lower leg Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88) Feed
Injury of the tibial artery, encompassing damage to this lower leg artery due to trauma.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the specific circumstances of the procedure (e.g., bilateral procedures, multiple procedures, different sites of service). Consult your local payer's guidelines.
Medical necessity for treatment of a tibial artery injury is established by the presence of symptoms and signs consistent with the diagnosis (e.g., active bleeding, diminished pulses, signs of ischemia), confirmed by appropriate diagnostic testing (e.g., arteriography).The need for surgical repair is determined based on the severity of the injury and its impact on perfusion to the lower leg.Emergency situations always meet medical necessity criteria.
Diagnosis and treatment of tibial artery injury falls under the responsibility of vascular surgeons, general surgeons, or emergency medicine physicians, depending on the setting and severity of the injury.The clinical responsibility encompasses thorough patient assessment (history taking, physical exam, focused on neurovascular status), ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests (labs, imaging), determining appropriate treatment (surgical or medical management), and post-operative care if surgery is performed.
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- S80-S89 (Injuries to the knee and lower leg)
In simple words: Injury of the tibial artery means damage to the artery in your lower leg. This can happen from accidents, sports injuries, or other types of trauma.It can cause serious problems like bleeding and blood clots. Doctors diagnose it with exams and tests, and treatment might include surgery or medication to stop bleeding and prevent clots.
S85.1, Injury of tibial artery, in ICD-10-CM signifies damage to the artery supplying blood to the lower leg.This injury can stem from various causes, including blunt or penetrating trauma (motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, gunshot wounds, punctures), external compression or force, abnormal twisting or bending of the leg, surgical mishaps, or other blunt trauma.The resulting complications can be severe, potentially leading to heavy bleeding, thrombus (blood clot) formation,embolism (clot traveling to the heart causing heart attack or stroke), thrombophlebitis (vein inflammation), hypotension (low blood pressure from blood loss), and symptoms such as cool, pale skin in the affected area. Diagnosis involves a thorough patient history, physical examination (nerve and vascular assessments), laboratory tests (coagulation factors, platelets, BUN and creatinine if contrast imaging is planned), and imaging studies (X-rays, ultrasound, venography, arteriography) to assess the artery and surrounding tissues. Treatment may involve immediate wound pressure to control bleeding, anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy to manage clots, analgesics for pain relief, and potentially surgical intervention (suturing or ligation of the artery) if necessary.
Example 1: A patient presents to the emergency department after a motorcycle accident with an open wound and suspected tibial artery injury. The physician performs a physical exam, orders imaging (arteriography), and initiates emergency surgical repair to control bleeding and restore blood flow., An athlete sustains a tibial artery injury during a soccer game due to a direct blow to the leg.Initial treatment involves wound care and a vascular surgery consultation.Imaging reveals partial occlusion requiring angioplasty., A patient undergoes a surgical procedure on their lower leg, resulting in an iatrogenic tibial artery injury.The surgeon recognizes and addresses the injury during the operation, with immediate repair.
Complete documentation should include the patient's history (mechanism of injury, relevant past medical history), physical examination findings (neurovascular assessment, wound description), results of all diagnostic tests (lab results, imaging reports), details of the surgical procedure if performed (operative report, description of repair), and postoperative course.Documentation must support medical necessity.
** This code is for injury to the tibial artery.It does not include injuries to other vessels in the lower leg or foot.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable for this diagnosis code (ICD-10-CM).
- Specialties:Vascular Surgery, General Surgery, Emergency Medicine
- Place of Service:Emergency Room - Hospital, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Office