Cervical disc disorders
In Other dorsopathies (M50-M54), chapter 13: Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue
42 billable codes under M50: 7 are a CC; none map to an HCC.A CC or MCC (major CC) is a secondary diagnosis that raises the MS-DRG payment.
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Instructional notes
Includes: conditions that are coded here
- cervicothoracic disc disorders with cervicalgia
- cervicothoracic disc disorders
Also applies, from Other dorsopathies (M50-M54)
These notes sit on M50-M54 and apply to every code under it, including M50.
Excludes1: not coded here, use a different code
- current injury - see injury of spine by body region
- discitis NOS (M46.4-)
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.
- Site and laterality (page 60)
- Acute traumatic versus chronic or recurrent musculoskeletal conditions (page 61)
- Coding of Pathologic Fractures (page 61)
- Osteoporosis (page 61)
- Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (page 62)
All codes under M50
M50 can't be used on a claim. Pick a billable code below; grey headings group them.
- M50.0Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy
- M50.00Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, unspecified cervical region
- M50.01Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, high cervical region
- M50.02Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, mid-cervical region
- M50.020Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, mid-cervical region, unspecified level
- M50.021Cervical disc disorder at C4-C5 level with myelopathy
- M50.022Cervical disc disorder at C5-C6 level with myelopathy
- M50.023Cervical disc disorder at C6-C7 level with myelopathy
- M50.03Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, cervicothoracic region
- M50.1Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy
- M50.10Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, unspecified cervical region
- M50.11Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, high cervical region
- M50.12Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, mid-cervical region
- M50.120Mid-cervical disc disorder, unspecified level
- M50.121Cervical disc disorder at C4-C5 level with radiculopathy
- M50.122Cervical disc disorder at C5-C6 level with radiculopathy
- M50.123Cervical disc disorder at C6-C7 level with radiculopathy
- M50.13Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, cervicothoracic region
- M50.2Other cervical disc displacement
- M50.20Other cervical disc displacement, unspecified cervical region
- M50.21Other cervical disc displacement, high cervical region
- M50.22Other cervical disc displacement, mid-cervical region
- M50.220Other cervical disc displacement, mid-cervical region, unspecified level
- M50.221Other cervical disc displacement at C4-C5 level
- M50.222Other cervical disc displacement at C5-C6 level
- M50.223Other cervical disc displacement at C6-C7 level
- M50.23Other cervical disc displacement, cervicothoracic region
- M50.3Other cervical disc degeneration
- M50.30Other cervical disc degeneration, unspecified cervical region
- M50.31Other cervical disc degeneration, high cervical region
- M50.32Other cervical disc degeneration, mid-cervical region
- M50.320Other cervical disc degeneration, mid-cervical region, unspecified level
- M50.321Other cervical disc degeneration at C4-C5 level
- M50.322Other cervical disc degeneration at C5-C6 level
- M50.323Other cervical disc degeneration at C6-C7 level
- M50.33Other cervical disc degeneration, cervicothoracic region
- M50.8Other cervical disc disorders
- M50.80Other cervical disc disorders, unspecified cervical region
- M50.81Other cervical disc disorders, high cervical region
- M50.82Other cervical disc disorders, mid-cervical region
- M50.820Other cervical disc disorders, mid-cervical region, unspecified level
- M50.821Other cervical disc disorders at C4-C5 level
- M50.822Other cervical disc disorders at C5-C6 level
- M50.823Other cervical disc disorders at C6-C7 level
- M50.83Other cervical disc disorders, cervicothoracic region
- M50.9Cervical disc disorder, unspecified
- M50.90Cervical disc disorder, unspecified, unspecified cervical region
- M50.91Cervical disc disorder, unspecified, high cervical region
- M50.92Cervical disc disorder, unspecified, mid-cervical region
- M50.920Unspecified cervical disc disorder, mid-cervical region, unspecified level
- M50.921Unspecified cervical disc disorder at C4-C5 level
- M50.922Unspecified cervical disc disorder at C5-C6 level
- M50.923Unspecified cervical disc disorder at C6-C7 level
- M50.93Cervical disc disorder, unspecified, cervicothoracic region
M50 MS-DRGs
As the principal diagnosis, all 42 billable codes under M50 group to MS-DRG 551 or 552 (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 M50
Notes on these codes point to M50.
- G54 Excludes1: intervertebral disc disorders (M50-M51)
- M51 Excludes2: cervical and cervicothoracic disc disorders (M50.-)
- M53.1 Excludes2: cervical disc disorder (M50.-)
- M54.2 Excludes1: cervicalgia due to intervertebral cervical disc disorder (M50.-)
- S13.0 Excludes1: rupture or displacement (nontraumatic) of cervical intervertebral disc NOS (M50.-)
About the condition
Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.
Neck Injuries and Disorders
Any part of your neck - muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, or nerves - can cause neck problems. Neck pain is very common. Pain may also come from your shoulder, jaw, head, or upper arms.
Read more about neck injuries and disorders on MedlinePlusCode history
Valid since FY2016, when ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. No changes since.