Reduction defects of lower limb (Q72)
The ICD-10 code Q72 covers congenital reduction defects of the lower limb, which involve missing or underdeveloped parts of the leg or foot present from birth. These codes are essential for diagnosing and documenting various specific limb deficiencies.
This section includes detailed codes for conditions such as the congenital complete absence of a lower limb (Q72.0) and its subtypes specifying right, left, or bilateral absence. It also covers conditions like phocomelia (Q72.1), which is the congenital absence of thigh and lower leg with the foot present, and split foot (Q72.7), involving malformations like cleft foot. Codes describe particular bone deficiencies, such as longitudinal reduction defects of the femur, tibia, or fibula (Q72.4-Q72.6), reflecting partial or complete absence of these bones. Additionally, other reduction defects (Q72.8) and unspecified cases (Q72.9) are classified to cover a variety of lesser-defined congenital abnormalities. Terms like “transverse deficiency,” “ectromelia,” and “agenesis” are synonymous with many of these codes, helping coders identify the right code based on clinical terms used for congenital lower limb reduction defects.
For medical coders and healthcare professionals, the ICD-10 code for specific conditions such as congenital absence of right lower limb (Q72.01) or bilateral absence of foot and toes (Q72.33) provides precise identification, which supports accurate clinical documentation and appropriate care planning.
Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
Congenital malformations and deformations of the musculoskeletal system (Q65-Q79)
Q72 Reduction defects of lower limb
Q72.0 Congenital complete absence of lower limb
- Q72.00 Congenital complete absence of unspecified lower limb
- Q72.01 Congenital complete absence of right lower limb
- Q72.02 Congenital complete absence of left lower limb
- Q72.03 Congenital complete absence of lower limb, bilateral
Q72.1 Congenital absence of thigh and lower leg with foot present
- Q72.10 Congenital absence of unspecified thigh and lower leg with foot present
- Q72.11 Congenital absence of right thigh and lower leg with foot present
- Q72.12 Congenital absence of left thigh and lower leg with foot present
- Q72.13 Congenital absence of thigh and lower leg with foot present, bilateral
Q72.2 Congenital absence of both lower leg and foot
- Q72.20 Congenital absence of both lower leg and foot, unspecified lower limb
- Q72.21 Congenital absence of both lower leg and foot, right lower limb
- Q72.22 Congenital absence of both lower leg and foot, left lower limb
- Q72.23 Congenital absence of both lower leg and foot, bilateral
Q72.3 Congenital absence of foot and toe(s)
- Q72.30 Congenital absence of unspecified foot and toe(s)
- Q72.31 Congenital absence of right foot and toe(s)
- Q72.32 Congenital absence of left foot and toe(s)
- Q72.33 Congenital absence of foot and toe(s), bilateral
Q72.4 Longitudinal reduction defect of femur
- Q72.40 Longitudinal reduction defect of unspecified femur
- Q72.41 Longitudinal reduction defect of right femur
- Q72.42 Longitudinal reduction defect of left femur
- Q72.43 Longitudinal reduction defect of femur, bilateral
Q72.5 Longitudinal reduction defect of tibia
- Q72.50 Longitudinal reduction defect of unspecified tibia
- Q72.51 Longitudinal reduction defect of right tibia
- Q72.52 Longitudinal reduction defect of left tibia
- Q72.53 Longitudinal reduction defect of tibia, bilateral
Q72.6 Longitudinal reduction defect of fibula
- Q72.60 Longitudinal reduction defect of unspecified fibula
- Q72.61 Longitudinal reduction defect of right fibula
- Q72.62 Longitudinal reduction defect of left fibula
- Q72.63 Longitudinal reduction defect of fibula, bilateral
Q72.7 Split foot
- Q72.70 Split foot, unspecified lower limb
- Q72.71 Split foot, right lower limb
- Q72.72 Split foot, left lower limb
- Q72.73 Split foot, bilateral
Q72.8 Other reduction defects of lower limb
Q72.81 Congenital shortening of lower limb
- Q72.811 Congenital shortening of right lower limb
- Q72.812 Congenital shortening of left lower limb
- Q72.813 Congenital shortening of lower limb, bilateral
- Q72.819 Congenital shortening of unspecified lower limb
Q72.89 Other reduction defects of lower limb
- Q72.891 Other reduction defects of right lower limb
- Q72.892 Other reduction defects of left lower limb
- Q72.893 Other reduction defects of lower limb, bilateral
- Q72.899 Other reduction defects of unspecified lower limb
Q72.9 Unspecified reduction defect of lower limb
- Q72.90 Unspecified reduction defect of unspecified lower limb
- Q72.91 Unspecified reduction defect of right lower limb
- Q72.92 Unspecified reduction defect of left lower limb
- Q72.93 Unspecified reduction defect of lower limb, bilateral
Reduction defects of lower limb (Q72)
Clinical Terms
The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.
Ectromelia
Gross hypo- or aplasia of one or more long bones of one or more limbs. The concept includes amelia, hemimelia, phocomelia, and sirenomelia.
Ectromelia virus
A species of ORTHOPOXVIRUS infecting mice and causing a disease that involves internal organs and produces characteristic skin lesions.
Ectromelia, Infectious
A viral infection of mice, causing edema and necrosis followed by limb loss.
Leg Length Inequality
A condition in which one of a pair of legs fails to grow as long as the other, which could result from injury or surgery.
Orthopoxvirus
A genus of the family POXVIRIDAE, subfamily CHORDOPOXVIRINAE, comprising many species infecting mammals. Viruses of this genus cause generalized infections and a rash in some hosts. The type species is VACCINIA VIRUS.
