2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M42Spinal osteochondrosis

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M40-M43›M42

ICD-10-CM M42
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

M42 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for spinal osteochondrosis, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as M42.00, M42.01, M42.02, and M42.03.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
M42
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Spinal osteochondrosis
Short Description
Spinal osteochondrosis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
M40-M43
Deforming dorsopathies

Code Classification

ChapterM00–M99Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
SectionM40-M43Deforming dorsopathies
CategoryM42Spinal osteochondrosis
This CodeM42Spinal osteochondrosis

Specific Coding for Spinal osteochondrosisOverview

Non-specific codes like M42 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • M42.0 for Juvenile osteochondrosis of spine

  • Use M42.00 for Juvenile osteochondrosis of spine, site unspecified

  • Use M42.01 for Juvenile osteochondrosis of spine, occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • Use M42.02 for Juvenile osteochondrosis of spine, cervical region

  • Use M42.03 for Juvenile osteochondrosis of spine, cervicothoracic region

  • Use M42.04 for Juvenile osteochondrosis of spine, thoracic region

  • Use M42.05 for Juvenile osteochondrosis of spine, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M42.06 for Juvenile osteochondrosis of spine, lumbar region

  • Use M42.07 for Juvenile osteochondrosis of spine, lumbosacral region

  • Use M42.08 for Juvenile osteochondrosis of spine, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • Use M42.09 for Juvenile osteochondrosis of spine, multiple sites in spine

  • M42.1 for Adult osteochondrosis of spine

  • Use M42.10 for Adult osteochondrosis of spine, site unspecified

  • Use M42.11 for Adult osteochondrosis of spine, occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • Use M42.12 for Adult osteochondrosis of spine, cervical region

  • Use M42.13 for Adult osteochondrosis of spine, cervicothoracic region

  • Use M42.14 for Adult osteochondrosis of spine, thoracic region

  • Use M42.15 for Adult osteochondrosis of spine, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M42.16 for Adult osteochondrosis of spine, lumbar region

  • Use M42.17 for Adult osteochondrosis of spine, lumbosacral region

  • Use M42.18 for Adult osteochondrosis of spine, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • Use M42.19 for Adult osteochondrosis of spine, multiple sites in spine

  • Use M42.9 for Spinal osteochondrosis, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to M42: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 13. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

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)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

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 M42, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming M42: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • M40.0 Postural kyphosis
    osteochondrosis of spine (M42.-)

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming M42: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • M93 Other osteochondropathies
    osteochondrosis of spine (M42.-)

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Spinal Osteochondrosis

    a bone disorder involving ossification centers (epiphyses) of the vertebral column.

Patient EducationClinical

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:

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 M42Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for spinal osteochondrosis?

M42 is the ICD-10-CM category for spinal osteochondrosis, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is M42 (Spinal osteochondrosis) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for spinal osteochondrosis, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for spinal osteochondrosis need a more specific code from this category, such as M42.00, M42.01, and M42.02.