2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M42Spinal osteochondrosis

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M40-M43›M42

ICD-10-CM M42
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

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

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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About M42Overview

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.