2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M02Postinfective and reactive arthropathies

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M00-M02›M02

ICD-10-CM M02
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

M02 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for postinfective and reactive arthropathies, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as M02.00, M02.011, M02.012, and M02.019.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
M02
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Postinfective and reactive arthropathies
Short Description
Postinfective and reactive arthropathies
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
M00-M02
Infectious arthropathies

Code Classification

ChapterM00–M99Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
SectionM00-M02Infectious arthropathies
CategoryM02Postinfective and reactive arthropathies
This CodeM02Postinfective and reactive arthropathies

Specific Coding for Postinfective and reactive arthropathiesOverview

Non-specific codes like M02 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • M02.0 for Arthropathy following intestinal bypass

  • Use M02.00 for Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, unspecified site

  • M02.01 for Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, shoulder

  • M02.02 for Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, elbow

  • M02.03 for Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, wrist

  • M02.04 for Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, hand

  • M02.05 for Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, hip

  • M02.06 for Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, knee

  • M02.07 for Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, ankle and foot

  • Use M02.08 for Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, vertebrae

  • Use M02.09 for Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, multiple sites

  • M02.1 for Postdysenteric arthropathy

  • Use M02.10 for Postdysenteric arthropathy, unspecified site

  • M02.11 for Postdysenteric arthropathy, shoulder

  • M02.12 for Postdysenteric arthropathy, elbow

  • M02.13 for Postdysenteric arthropathy, wrist

  • M02.14 for Postdysenteric arthropathy, hand

  • M02.15 for Postdysenteric arthropathy, hip

  • M02.16 for Postdysenteric arthropathy, knee

  • M02.17 for Postdysenteric arthropathy, ankle and foot

  • Use M02.18 for Postdysenteric arthropathy, vertebrae

  • Use M02.19 for Postdysenteric arthropathy, multiple sites

  • M02.2 for Postimmunization arthropathy

  • Use M02.20 for Postimmunization arthropathy, unspecified site

  • M02.21 for Postimmunization arthropathy, shoulder

  • M02.22 for Postimmunization arthropathy, elbow

  • M02.23 for Postimmunization arthropathy, wrist

  • M02.24 for Postimmunization arthropathy, hand

  • M02.25 for Postimmunization arthropathy, hip

  • M02.26 for Postimmunization arthropathy, knee

  • M02.27 for Postimmunization arthropathy, ankle and foot

  • Use M02.28 for Postimmunization arthropathy, vertebrae

  • Use M02.29 for Postimmunization arthropathy, multiple sites

  • M02.3 for Reiter's disease

  • Use M02.30 for Reiter's disease, unspecified site

  • M02.31 for Reiter's disease, shoulder

  • M02.32 for Reiter's disease, elbow

  • M02.33 for Reiter's disease, wrist

  • M02.34 for Reiter's disease, hand

  • M02.35 for Reiter's disease, hip

  • M02.36 for Reiter's disease, knee

  • M02.37 for Reiter's disease, ankle and foot

  • Use M02.38 for Reiter's disease, vertebrae

  • Use M02.39 for Reiter's disease, multiple sites

  • M02.8 for Other reactive arthropathies

  • Use M02.80 for Other reactive arthropathies, unspecified site

  • M02.81 for Other reactive arthropathies, shoulder

  • M02.82 for Other reactive arthropathies, elbow

  • M02.83 for Other reactive arthropathies, wrist

  • M02.84 for Other reactive arthropathies, hand

  • M02.85 for Other reactive arthropathies, hip

  • M02.86 for Other reactive arthropathies, knee

  • M02.87 for Other reactive arthropathies, ankle and foot

  • Use M02.88 for Other reactive arthropathies, vertebrae

  • Use M02.89 for Other reactive arthropathies, multiple sites

  • Use M02.9 for Reactive arthropathy, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to M02: its own notes plus those printed at block M00-M25, block M00-M02, and Chapter 13. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From Block M00-M25 applies to 2,249 codes
  • Disorders affecting predominantly peripheral (limb) joints

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • Behçet's disease (M35.2)
  • direct infections of joint in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere (M01.-)
  • postmeningococcal arthritis (A39.84)
  • mumps arthritis (B26.85)
  • rubella arthritis (B06.82)
  • syphilis arthritis (late) (A52.77)
  • rheumatic fever (I00)
  • tabetic arthropathy [Charcôt's] (A52.16)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 13 (M00-M99) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue applies to 6,687 codes
  • 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)

Code First

The underlying condition named in the note is sequenced before this code.

  • underlying disease, such as:
  • congenital syphilis [Clutton's joints] (A50.5)
  • enteritis due to Yersinia enterocolitica (A04.6)
  • infective endocarditis (I33.0)
  • viral hepatitis (B15-B19)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Block M00-M02 Infectious arthropathies applies to 242 codes
  • This block comprises arthropathies due to microbiological agents. Distinction is made between the following types of etiological relationship:
  • a) direct infection of joint, where organisms invade synovial tissue and microbial antigen is present in the joint;
  • b) indirect infection, which may be of two types: a reactive arthropathy, where microbial infection of the body is established but neither organisms nor antigens can be identified in the joint, and a postinfective arthropathy, where microbial antigen is present but recovery of an organism is inconstant and evidence of local multiplication is lacking.
From Chapter 13 (M00-M99) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue applies to 6,687 codes
  • Use an external cause code following the code for the musculoskeletal condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the musculoskeletal condition

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name M02, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming M02: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • M01 Direct infections of joint in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere
    postinfective arthropathy (M02.-)

Patient EducationClinical

Arthritis

If you feel pain and stiffness in your body or have trouble moving around, you might have arthritis. Any disorder that affects the joints is often called arthritis. Joints are places where two bones meet, such as your elbow or knee.

The full article covers:

  • What is arthritis?
  • What are the types of arthritis?
  • What are the symptoms of arthritis?
  • Who is more likely to get arthritis?
  • How is arthritis diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for arthritis?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About M02Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for postinfective and reactive arthropathies?

M02 is the ICD-10-CM category for postinfective and reactive arthropathies, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is M02 (Postinfective and reactive arthropathies) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for postinfective and reactive arthropathies, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for postinfective and reactive arthropathies need a more specific code from this category, such as M02.00, M02.011, and M02.012.

Can M02 be reported with M35.2?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on M02 lists "Behçet's disease (M35.2)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

What is coded first with M02?

The Code First note reads: underlying disease, such as: congenital syphilis [Clutton's joints] (A50.5); enteritis due to Yersinia enterocolitica (A04.6); infective endocarditis (I33.0); viral hepatitis (B15-B19). When one of these applies, it is sequenced before M02.