Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders
In Other dorsopathies (M50-M54), chapter 13: Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue
36 billable codes under M51: 3 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
Also applies, from Other dorsopathies (M50-M54)
These notes sit on M50-M54 and apply to every code under it, including M51.
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 M51
M51 can't be used on a claim. Pick a billable code below; grey headings group them.
- M51.0Thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy
- M51.04Intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy, thoracic region
- M51.05Intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy, thoracolumbar region
- M51.06Intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy, lumbar region
- M51.1Thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy
- M51.14Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, thoracic region
- M51.15Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, thoracolumbar region
- M51.16Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, lumbar region
- M51.17Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, lumbosacral region
- M51.2Other thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc displacement
- M51.24Other intervertebral disc displacement, thoracic region
- M51.25Other intervertebral disc displacement, thoracolumbar region
- M51.26Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbar region
- M51.27Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbosacral region
- M51.3Other thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc degeneration
- M51.34Other intervertebral disc degeneration, thoracic region
- M51.35Other intervertebral disc degeneration, thoracolumbar region
- M51.36Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region
- M51.360Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region with discogenic back pain only
- M51.361Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region with lower extremity pain only
- M51.362Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region with discogenic back pain and lower extremity pain
- M51.369Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region without mention of lumbar back pain or lower extremity pain
- M51.37Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbosacral region
- M51.370Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbosacral region with discogenic back pain only
- M51.371Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbosacral region with lower extremity pain only
- M51.372Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbosacral region with discogenic back pain and lower extremity pain
- M51.379Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbosacral region without mention of lumbar back pain or lower extremity pain
- M51.4Schmorl's nodes
- M51.44Schmorl's nodes, thoracic region
- M51.45Schmorl's nodes, thoracolumbar region
- M51.46Schmorl's nodes, lumbar region
- M51.47Schmorl's nodes, lumbosacral region
- M51.8Other thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders
- M51.84Other intervertebral disc disorders, thoracic region
- M51.85Other intervertebral disc disorders, thoracolumbar region
- M51.86Other intervertebral disc disorders, lumbar region
- M51.87Other intervertebral disc disorders, lumbosacral region
- M51.9Unspecified thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorder
- M51.AOther lumbar and lumbosacral annulus fibrosus disc defects
- M51.A0Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, lumbar region, unspecified size
- M51.A1Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, small, lumbar region
- M51.A2Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, large, lumbar region
- M51.A3Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, lumbosacral region, unspecified size
- M51.A4Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, small, lumbosacral region
- M51.A5Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, large, lumbosacral region
M51 MS-DRGs
As the principal diagnosis, all 36 billable codes under M51 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 M51
Notes on these codes point to M51.
- G54 Excludes1: intervertebral disc disorders (M50-M51)
- M54.6 Excludes1: pain in thoracic spine due to intervertebral disc disorder (M51.-)
- S23.0 Excludes1: rupture or displacement (nontraumatic) of thoracic intervertebral disc NOS (M51.- with fifth character 4)
- S33 Excludes1: nontraumatic rupture or displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc NOS (M51.-)
- S33.0 Excludes1: rupture or displacement (nontraumatic) of lumbar intervertebral disc NOS (M51.- with fifth character 6)
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 MedlinePlusCode history
Valid since FY2016, when ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. No changes since.