2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M46.91

Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, occipito-atlanto-axial region

ICD-10-CM Code:
M46.91
ICD-10 Code for:
Unsp inflammatory spondylopathy, occipt-atlan-ax region
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Not chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
    (M00–M99)
    • Spondylopathies
      (M45-M49)
      • Other inflammatory spondylopathies
        (M46)

M46.91 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, occipito-atlanto-axial region. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like M46.91 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

  • Axial spondyloarthritis

Clinical Classification

Clinical Information

  • Axial Spondyloarthritis

    a spectrum of chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the axial joints (e.g., spine), characterized by pain, stiffness of joints (ankylosis), reduced mobility and inflammation. when joint inflammation and damage are visible on regular x-rays it is called ankylosing spondylitis; otherwise it is referred to as non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. hla-b27 antigen is a biomarker and il-23/il-17 pathway a potential therapeutic target for axial and other related spondyloarthritis.
  • Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

    chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the axial joints which cannot be detectable on x-rays. it is characterized by pain, stiffness of joints and inflammation. non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis can have symptoms onset before the age of 45 and progress to more severe ankylosing spondylitis over time.

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

Convert M46.91 to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 720.9 - Inflam spondylopathy NOS
    Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.

Patient Education


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:

  • Infections
  • Injuries
  • Tumors
  • Conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis and scoliosis
  • Bone changes that come with age, such as spinal stenosis and herniated disks

Spinal diseases often cause pain when bone changes put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. They can also limit movement. Treatments differ by disease, but sometimes they include back braces and surgery.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.