ICD-10 Code L03.03 – Cellulitis of toe (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L03.03 – Cellulitis of toe
What it is
L03.03 identifies cellulitis affecting a toe. It means a bacterial skin and soft tissue infection of the toe with spreading inflammation in the surrounding tissue.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include localized redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, and skin tightness of the toe. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation if the record does not clearly describe infection.
When to use this code
Use L03.03 when the clinician documents cellulitis limited to one or more toes. It fits outpatient, inpatient, or emergency records when the toe is the documented site. If the note only says “foot infection” or “cellulitis” without toe involvement, check documentation.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for paronychia, abscess without cellulitis, or cellulitis of another foot location. If the condition is not clearly documented as toe cellulitis, verify the site before coding.
Coding tip
Code the documented toe site exactly; laterality and additional infection details should come from the record, not assumption.