Golfer's elbow is an overuse injury that causes pain on the inside of the elbow. This article discusses the symptoms, treatment and related medical codes.

1. Documenting and Coding
Golfer’s Elbow – a Common
Elbow Condition
Golfer's elbow is an overuse injury
that causes pain on the inside of the
elbow. This article discusses the
symptoms, treatment and related
medical codes.
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Golfer’s elbow is a condition that causes severe pain on the inner side of
your elbow. Also called medical epicondylitis, this condition is similar to that
of tennis elbow and causes inflammation or degeneration of the tendon
around the bony bump on the inner side of the joint. Generally, this
condition occurs due to repetitive stress on the tendons. Any action which
places excessive strain on the forearm muscles combined with inadequate
rest will tend to overwork the muscles, causing severe pain that may
normally spread to the forearm and wrist. This elbow condition may restrict
or affect a person’s ability to perform his/her routine activities. However,
with proper rest and appropriate treatment options, one can get back into
the swing of things. Orthopedists and sports medicine specialists treating
this condition can depend on the services of reliable medical billing
companies in order to meet their claim submission tasks.
Understanding the Symptoms
Golfer’s elbow is more common among golfers or tennis players who
repeatedly use or clench their fingers. However, this doesn’t mean that this
condition is fully limited to sports people. It can also occur among middle-
aged, non-sporting people – both men and women. Symptoms associated
with medial epicondylitis may be mild or severe. These symptoms may
sometimes develop slowly, particularly when the condition occurs due to an
overuse. However, in the event of injury, these symptoms may develop
suddenly. Common symptoms associated with the condition include –
 Pain and tenderness on the inner side of your elbow
 Stiffness and weakness in joint curve
 Restriction of movement or bending of wrists
 Numbness or a tingling sensation that radiates into one or more
fingers (generally ring and little fingers)
 Deformed elbows
 A weak grip
 A weakened wrist and stiff elbow
In some cases, the pain may become worse or increase in severity when the
affected person swings a golf club or racket, pitches a ball, shakes hands,
turns a door knob or lifts weights. Potential risk factors associated with the
condition include – age above 40 years, obesity, habit of smoking and
performing a repetitive activity at least two hours a day.

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Diagnosing and Treating Golfers Elbow
Generally, golfer’s elbow or medial epicondylitis is diagnosed by evaluating
the detailed medical history and performing a physical exam of patients. In
order to evaluate the type and severity of pain and elbow stiffness, physical
therapists may apply direct pressure to the affected areas and ask patients
to move their hand, wrist and fingers in different ways. They may also
conduct comprehensive imaging studies like X-ray and MRI scan to rule out
any other causes of this condition such as joint fracture or arthritis.
One of the best strategies to reduce the onset of pain is to put a hold on
playing golf or other repetitive activities that cause pain. Icing the affected
elbow for at least 15-20 minutes at a time, three to four times a day for
several days and wearing a counterforce brace on the affected arm can help
reduce swelling, pain and muscle strain. Physicians may also suggest
stretching and strengthening exercises that help patients get back to their
normal activities. Over-the-counter pain medications may also be prescribed
to achieve pain relief.
Orthopedics medical billing and coding can be difficult, as it involves
different code categories. The diagnosis and other screening tests performed
by orthopedists or other specialists need to be documented using the correct
medical codes. Medical billing services offered by a reliable medical billing
company can help physicians use the relevant medical codes to bill for the
procedure. ICD–10 and CPT codes to report Golfers Elbow or Medial
Epicondylitis include –
ICD-10 Codes
M77 - Other enthesopathies
 M77.0 - Medial epicondylitis
 M77.00 - Medial epicondylitis, unspecified elbow
 M77.01 - Medial epicondylitis, right elbow
 M77.02 - Medial epicondylitis, left elbow
CPT Codes
 24345 - Repair medial collateral ligament, elbow, with local tissue
 24346 - Repair medial collateral ligament, elbow, with tendon graft,
including graft harvest
 24357 - Percutaneous medial or lateral epicondyle tenotomy

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 24358 - Medial or lateral epicondyle debridement
 24359 - Medial or lateral epicondyle debridement with tendon repair or
reattachment
Recognizing the prominent causes of this elbow condition is one of the first
steps towards prevention. Patients need to take adequate rest from activities
to reduce inflammation so that the tendon injury can heal. It is also essential
to modify job activities and avoid repetitive movements of the hand.
Knowing the correct medical codes related to Golfer’s elbow is critical for
healthcare providers. Partnering with a reliable and experienced medical
billing outsourcing company is important for physicians to ensure accurate
and timely claim submissions.