Excludes1 pair
M81.6 vs M89.0-
M81.6 and M89.0 are not coded together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note — the two conditions are not expected to occur together, so exactly one of them is normally correct for a given encounter. The Official Guidelines carve out one exception: if the two conditions are clearly unrelated to each other, both may be reported.
The official note, declared on M81.6
Sudeck's atrophy (M89.0)
M81.6
Localized osteoporosis [Lequesne]
Billable
- Chapter 13
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
- Section
- M80-M85
Indexed under
- Osteoporosis › Lequesne
- Osteoporosis › localized
M89.0
Algoneurodystrophy
Not billable
- Chapter 13
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
- Section
- M86-M90
Use when the record says
- Shoulder-hand syndrome
- Sudeck's atrophy
Excludes1 is not always absolute: where two conditions covered by the note are genuinely unrelated, CMS guidance permits reporting both. Document the reasoning rather than assuming it. More on Excludes1 vs Excludes2 · FY2027