M84.373A — Stress fracture, unspecified ankle, initial encounter for fracture
Is M84.373A billable?
Yes, but M84.373A is an unspecified code. M84.373A is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, M84.373A is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting M84.373A — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
- M84.371AStress fracture, right ankle, initial encounter for fracture
- M84.372AStress fracture, left ankle, initial encounter for fracture
- M84.374AStress fracture, right foot, initial encounter for fracture
- M84.375AStress fracture, left foot, initial encounter for fracture
- M84.377AStress fracture, right toe(s), initial encounter for fracture
- M84.378AStress fracture, left toe(s), initial encounter for fracture
M84.373A at a glance
| Code | M84.373A |
|---|---|
| Description | Stress fracture, unspecified ankle, initial encounter for fracture |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
| 7th character "A" | initial encounter for fracture |
What does the 7th character "A" mean in M84.373A?
In M84.373A, the 7th character A means initial encounter for fracture. The 7th character is required for M84.373A to be a valid, complete code.
Same condition, different episode of care — switch the 7th character:
Which MS-DRGs does M84.373A group to?
M84.373A sits in MDC 08 and helps define the logic of 3 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 542Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy with MCCmedical
- 543Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy with CCmedical
- 544Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy without CC/MCCmedical
How is M84.373A listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under M84.37, the nearest indexed parent of M84.373A. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Fracture, traumatic › stress › ankle (abduction) (adduction) (separation)
- Fracture, traumatic › stress › metatarsus (abduction) (adduction) (separation)
- Fracture, traumatic › stress › tarsus (abduction) (adduction) (separation)
- Fracture, traumatic › stress › toe (abduction) (adduction) (separation)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from M84.3
The conditions below can never be reported together with M84.373A on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Use additional code — inherited from M84.3
Report an additional code alongside M84.373A to fully describe the condition. M84.373A is sequenced first.
- external cause code(s) to identify the cause of the stress fracture
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 13
The conditions below are not part of M84.373A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, M84.373A 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 M84
The conditions below are not part of M84.373A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, M84.373A and the excluded code may both be reported.
- traumatic fracture of bone-see fracture, by site
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from M84.3
The conditions below are not part of M84.373A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, M84.373A and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has M84.373A existed?
M84.373A 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.