M42Not billable, use a more specific code below

Spinal osteochondrosis

In Deforming dorsopathies (M40-M43), chapter 13: Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue

21 billable codes under M42: none are a CC or MCC; none map to an HCC.

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Official coding guidelines

From the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2027 (CMS and NCHS). Links open the PDF at the right page.

Covers site and laterality, acute injury versus chronic musculoskeletal conditions, 7th characters for pathologic fractures, osteoporosis with or without current fracture, and multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

Read Section I.C.13 (page 60)

M42 MS-DRGs

As the principal diagnosis, the billable codes under M42 group to MS-DRG 553, 554, 456, 457, or 458 (v44.0). Which one applies depends on procedures performed, secondary diagnoses (CC/MCC), and the patient's age and discharge status.

Other codes that refer to M42

Notes on these codes point to M42.

  • M40.0 Excludes1: osteochondrosis of spine (M42.-)
  • M93 Excludes2: osteochondrosis of spine (M42.-)

About the condition

Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.

Spine Injuries and Disorders

Your backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bone discs called vertebrae. The vertebrae protect your spinal cord and allow you to stand and bend. A number of problems can change the structure of the spine or damage the vertebrae and surrounding tissue. They include:

Read more about spine injuries and disorders on MedlinePlus

Code history

Valid since FY2016, when ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. No changes since.