2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M46Other inflammatory spondylopathies

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M45-M49›M46

ICD-10-CM M46
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

M46 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for other inflammatory spondylopathies, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as M46.00, M46.01, M46.02, and M46.03.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
M46
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Other inflammatory spondylopathies
Short Description
Other inflammatory spondylopathies
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
M45-M49
Spondylopathies

Code Classification

ChapterM00–M99Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
SectionM45-M49Spondylopathies
CategoryM46Other inflammatory spondylopathies
This CodeM46Other inflammatory spondylopathies

Specific Coding for Other inflammatory spondylopathiesOverview

Non-specific codes like M46 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • M46.0 for Spinal enthesopathy

  • Use M46.00 for Spinal enthesopathy, site unspecified

  • Use M46.01 for Spinal enthesopathy, occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • Use M46.02 for Spinal enthesopathy, cervical region

  • Use M46.03 for Spinal enthesopathy, cervicothoracic region

  • Use M46.04 for Spinal enthesopathy, thoracic region

  • Use M46.05 for Spinal enthesopathy, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M46.06 for Spinal enthesopathy, lumbar region

  • Use M46.07 for Spinal enthesopathy, lumbosacral region

  • Use M46.08 for Spinal enthesopathy, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • Use M46.09 for Spinal enthesopathy, multiple sites in spine

  • Use M46.1 for Sacroiliitis, not elsewhere classified

  • M46.2 for Osteomyelitis of vertebra

  • Use M46.20 for Osteomyelitis of vertebra, site unspecified

  • Use M46.21 for Osteomyelitis of vertebra, occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • Use M46.22 for Osteomyelitis of vertebra, cervical region

  • Use M46.23 for Osteomyelitis of vertebra, cervicothoracic region

  • Use M46.24 for Osteomyelitis of vertebra, thoracic region

  • Use M46.25 for Osteomyelitis of vertebra, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M46.26 for Osteomyelitis of vertebra, lumbar region

  • Use M46.27 for Osteomyelitis of vertebra, lumbosacral region

  • Use M46.28 for Osteomyelitis of vertebra, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • M46.3 for Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic)

  • Use M46.30 for Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), site unspecified

  • Use M46.31 for Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • Use M46.32 for Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), cervical region

  • Use M46.33 for Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), cervicothoracic region

  • Use M46.34 for Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), thoracic region

  • Use M46.35 for Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), thoracolumbar region

  • Use M46.36 for Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbar region

  • Use M46.37 for Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbosacral region

  • Use M46.38 for Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • Use M46.39 for Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), multiple sites in spine

  • M46.4 for Discitis, unspecified

  • Use M46.40 for Discitis, unspecified, site unspecified

  • Use M46.41 for Discitis, unspecified, occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • Use M46.42 for Discitis, unspecified, cervical region

  • Use M46.43 for Discitis, unspecified, cervicothoracic region

  • Use M46.44 for Discitis, unspecified, thoracic region

  • Use M46.45 for Discitis, unspecified, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M46.46 for Discitis, unspecified, lumbar region

  • Use M46.47 for Discitis, unspecified, lumbosacral region

  • Use M46.48 for Discitis, unspecified, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • Use M46.49 for Discitis, unspecified, multiple sites in spine

  • M46.5 for Other infective spondylopathies

  • Use M46.50 for Other infective spondylopathies, site unspecified

  • Use M46.51 for Other infective spondylopathies, occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • Use M46.52 for Other infective spondylopathies, cervical region

  • Use M46.53 for Other infective spondylopathies, cervicothoracic region

  • Use M46.54 for Other infective spondylopathies, thoracic region

  • Use M46.55 for Other infective spondylopathies, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M46.56 for Other infective spondylopathies, lumbar region

  • Use M46.57 for Other infective spondylopathies, lumbosacral region

  • Use M46.58 for Other infective spondylopathies, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • Use M46.59 for Other infective spondylopathies, multiple sites in spine

  • M46.8 for Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies

  • Use M46.80 for Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, site unspecified

  • Use M46.81 for Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • Use M46.82 for Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, cervical region

  • Use M46.83 for Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, cervicothoracic region

  • Use M46.84 for Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, thoracic region

  • Use M46.85 for Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M46.86 for Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, lumbar region

  • Use M46.87 for Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, lumbosacral region

  • Use M46.88 for Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • Use M46.89 for Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, multiple sites in spine

  • M46.9 for Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy

  • Use M46.90 for Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, site unspecified

  • Use M46.91 for Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • Use M46.92 for Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, cervical region

  • Use M46.93 for Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, cervicothoracic region

  • Use M46.94 for Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, thoracic region

  • Use M46.95 for Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M46.96 for Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, lumbar region

  • Use M46.97 for Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, lumbosacral region

  • Use M46.98 for Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • Use M46.99 for Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, multiple sites in spine

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to M46: 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 M46, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming M46: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • G55 Nerve root and plexus compressions in diseases classified elsewhere
    nerve root compression (due to) (in) spondylopathies (M46.-, M48.-)

Patient EducationClinical

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis of the spine. It causes inflammation (swelling) between your vertebrae (the bones that make up your spine) and the joints between your spine and pelvis. AS inflammation can cause stiffness and make it difficult to move and bend.

The full article covers:

  • What is ankylosing spondylitis?
  • Who is more likely to get ankylosing spondylitis?
  • What causes ankylosing spondylitis?
  • What are the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis?
  • How is ankylosing spondylitis diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for ankylosing spondylitis?

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 M46Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for other inflammatory spondylopathies?

M46 is the ICD-10-CM category for other inflammatory spondylopathies, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is M46 (Other inflammatory spondylopathies) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for other inflammatory spondylopathies, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for other inflammatory spondylopathies need a more specific code from this category, such as M46.00, M46.01, and M46.02.