M21.9 — Unspecified acquired deformity of limb and hand
Is M21.9 billable?
No — M21.9 is a non-billable header code. M21.9 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 16 billable codes beneath M21.9.
Billable codes under this header
- M21.90Unspecified acquired deformity of unspecified limb
- M21.921Unspecified acquired deformity of right upper arm
- M21.922Unspecified acquired deformity of left upper arm
- M21.929Unspecified acquired deformity of unspecified upper arm
- M21.931Unspecified acquired deformity of right forearm
- M21.932Unspecified acquired deformity of left forearm
- M21.939Unspecified acquired deformity of unspecified forearm
- M21.941Unspecified acquired deformity of hand, right hand
- M21.942Unspecified acquired deformity of hand, left hand
- M21.949Unspecified acquired deformity of hand, unspecified hand
- M21.951Unspecified acquired deformity of right thigh
- M21.952Unspecified acquired deformity of left thigh
- M21.959Unspecified acquired deformity of unspecified thigh
- M21.961Unspecified acquired deformity of right lower leg
- M21.962Unspecified acquired deformity of left lower leg
- M21.969Unspecified acquired deformity of unspecified lower leg
M21.9 at a glance
| Code | M21.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Unspecified acquired deformity of limb and hand |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from M21
The conditions below can never be reported together with M21.9 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 13
The conditions below are not part of M21.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, M21.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- arthropathic psoriasis (L40.5-)
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- compartment syndrome (traumatic) (T79.A-)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- neoplasms (C00-D49)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from M20-M25
The conditions below are not part of M21.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, M21.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- joints of the spine (M40-M54)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from M21
The conditions below are not part of M21.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, M21.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
What codes fall under M21.9? (6)
- M21.90Unspecified acquired deformity of unspecified limb
- M21.92Unspecified acquired deformity of upper armnot billable
- M21.93Unspecified acquired deformity of forearmnot billable
- M21.94Unspecified acquired deformity of handnot billable
- M21.95Unspecified acquired deformity of thighnot billable
- M21.96Unspecified acquired deformity of lower legnot billable
How long has M21.9 existed?
M21.9 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.
What other codes are in the M21 family? (9)
- M21.0Valgus deformity, not elsewhere classifiednot billable
- M21.1Varus deformity, not elsewhere classifiednot billable
- M21.2Flexion deformitynot billable
- M21.3Wrist or foot drop (acquired)not billable
- M21.4Flat foot [pes planus] (acquired)not billable
- M21.5Acquired clawhand, clubhand, clawfoot and clubfootnot billable
- M21.6Other acquired deformities of footnot billable
- M21.7Unequal limb length (acquired)not billable
- M21.8Other specified acquired deformities of limbsnot billable