2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M46.52Other infective spondylopathies, cervical region

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M45-M49›M46

ICD-10-CM M46.52
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

M46.52 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other infective spondylopathies, cervical region. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 456 through 458, 551 through 552. Coders also document this condition as arthritis of facet joint of cervical spine. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Spondylopathies/spondyloarthropathy (including infective).

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
M46.52
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other infective spondylopathies, cervical region
Short Description
Other infective spondylopathies, cervical region
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
M46.5
Other infective spondylopathies

Code Classification

ChapterM00–M99Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
SectionM45-M49Spondylopathies
CategoryM46Other inflammatory spondylopathies
This CodeM46.52Other infective spondylopathies, cervical region

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Arthritis of facet joint of cervical spine
  • Arthropathy of cervical spine facet joint
  • Bacterial arthritis of atlantoaxial joint
  • Bacterial arthritis of facet joint of cervical spine
  • Bacterial arthritis of vertebral column
  • Cervical arthritis
  • Inflammation of cervical spine joint

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Spondylopathy
      • infective NEC
        • cervical region

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR MUS011
Spondylopathies/spondyloarthropathy (including infective)
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Neck Injuries and Disorders

Any part of your neck - muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, or nerves - can cause neck problems. Neck pain is very common. Pain may also come from your shoulder, jaw, head, or upper arms.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert M46.52 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
720.89 Inflam spondylopathy NEC
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

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 M46.52Overview

Is M46.52 (Other infective spondylopathies) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other infective spondylopathies, cervical region on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does M46.52 group to?

When other infective spondylopathies, cervical region is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 456, 457, 458, 551, 552, with relative weights from 0.9613 to 8.4034 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of M46.52?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other infective spondylopathies, cervical region converts to ICD-9-CM 720.89 (inflam spondylopathy NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

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.