M49 — Spondylopathies in diseases classified elsewhere
Is M49 billable?
No — M49 is a non-billable header code. M49 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 10 billable codes beneath M49.
Billable codes under this header
- M49.80Spondylopathy in diseases classified elsewhere, site unspecified
- M49.81Spondylopathy in diseases classified elsewhere, occipito-atlanto-axial region
- M49.82Spondylopathy in diseases classified elsewhere, cervical region
- M49.83Spondylopathy in diseases classified elsewhere, cervicothoracic region
- M49.84Spondylopathy in diseases classified elsewhere, thoracic region
- M49.85Spondylopathy in diseases classified elsewhere, thoracolumbar region
- M49.86Spondylopathy in diseases classified elsewhere, lumbar region
- M49.87Spondylopathy in diseases classified elsewhere, lumbosacral region
- M49.88Spondylopathy in diseases classified elsewhere, sacral and sacrococcygeal region
- M49.89Spondylopathy in diseases classified elsewhere, multiple sites in spine
M49 at a glance
| Code | M49 |
|---|---|
| Description | Spondylopathies in diseases classified elsewhere |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Excludes1 — never code together
The conditions below can never be reported together with M49 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- curvature of spine in tuberculosis [Pott's] (A18.01)
- enteropathic arthropathies (M07.-)
- gonococcal spondylitis (A54.41)
- neuropathic [tabes dorsalis] spondylitis (A52.11)
- neuropathic spondylopathy in syringomyelia (G95.0)
- neuropathic spondylopathy in tabes dorsalis (A52.11)
- nonsyphilitic neuropathic spondylopathy NEC (G98.0)
- spondylitis in syphilis (acquired) (A52.77)
- tuberculous spondylitis (A18.01)
- typhoid fever spondylitis (A01.05)
Code first
The underlying condition below must be sequenced before M49. M49 describes a manifestation and cannot be the principal or first-listed diagnosis.
Includes
Conditions classified to M49.
- curvature of spine in diseases classified elsewhere
- deformity of spine in diseases classified elsewhere
- kyphosis in diseases classified elsewhere
- scoliosis in diseases classified elsewhere
- spondylopathy in diseases classified elsewhere
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 13
The conditions below are not part of M49, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, M49 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)
What codes fall under M49? (1)
How long has M49 existed?
M49 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.
Which codes are confused with M49?
ICD-10-CM declares these codes mutually exclusive with M49 — exactly one of each pair can be correct for a given encounter.