2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M48Other spondylopathies

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M45-M49›M48

ICD-10-CM M48
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

M48 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for other spondylopathies, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as M48.00, M48.01, M48.02, and M48.03.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
M48
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Other spondylopathies
Short Description
Other 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
CategoryM48Other spondylopathies
This CodeM48Other spondylopathies

Specific Coding for Other spondylopathiesOverview

Non-specific codes like M48 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • M48.0 for Spinal stenosis

  • Use M48.00 for Spinal stenosis, site unspecified

  • Use M48.01 for Spinal stenosis, occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • Use M48.02 for Spinal stenosis, cervical region

  • Use M48.03 for Spinal stenosis, cervicothoracic region

  • Use M48.04 for Spinal stenosis, thoracic region

  • Use M48.05 for Spinal stenosis, thoracolumbar region

  • M48.06 for Spinal stenosis, lumbar region

  • Use M48.07 for Spinal stenosis, lumbosacral region

  • Use M48.08 for Spinal stenosis, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • M48.1 for Ankylosing hyperostosis [Forestier]

  • Use M48.10 for Ankylosing hyperostosis [Forestier], site unspecified

  • Use M48.11 for Ankylosing hyperostosis [Forestier], occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • Use M48.12 for Ankylosing hyperostosis [Forestier], cervical region

  • Use M48.13 for Ankylosing hyperostosis [Forestier], cervicothoracic region

  • Use M48.14 for Ankylosing hyperostosis [Forestier], thoracic region

  • Use M48.15 for Ankylosing hyperostosis [Forestier], thoracolumbar region

  • Use M48.16 for Ankylosing hyperostosis [Forestier], lumbar region

  • Use M48.17 for Ankylosing hyperostosis [Forestier], lumbosacral region

  • Use M48.18 for Ankylosing hyperostosis [Forestier], sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • Use M48.19 for Ankylosing hyperostosis [Forestier], multiple sites in spine

  • M48.2 for Kissing spine

  • Use M48.20 for Kissing spine, site unspecified

  • Use M48.21 for Kissing spine, occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • Use M48.22 for Kissing spine, cervical region

  • Use M48.23 for Kissing spine, cervicothoracic region

  • Use M48.24 for Kissing spine, thoracic region

  • Use M48.25 for Kissing spine, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M48.26 for Kissing spine, lumbar region

  • Use M48.27 for Kissing spine, lumbosacral region

  • M48.3 for Traumatic spondylopathy

  • Use M48.30 for Traumatic spondylopathy, site unspecified

  • Use M48.31 for Traumatic spondylopathy, occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • Use M48.32 for Traumatic spondylopathy, cervical region

  • Use M48.33 for Traumatic spondylopathy, cervicothoracic region

  • Use M48.34 for Traumatic spondylopathy, thoracic region

  • Use M48.35 for Traumatic spondylopathy, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M48.36 for Traumatic spondylopathy, lumbar region

  • Use M48.37 for Traumatic spondylopathy, lumbosacral region

  • Use M48.38 for Traumatic spondylopathy, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • M48.4 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra

  • M48.40 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, site unspecified

  • M48.41 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • M48.42 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical region

  • M48.43 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervicothoracic region

  • M48.44 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, thoracic region

  • M48.45 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, thoracolumbar region

  • M48.46 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, lumbar region

  • M48.47 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, lumbosacral region

  • M48.48 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • M48.5 for Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified

  • M48.50 for Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, site unspecified

  • M48.51 for Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, occipito-atlanto-axial region

  • M48.52 for Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, cervical region

  • M48.53 for Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, cervicothoracic region

  • M48.54 for Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, thoracic region

  • M48.55 for Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, thoracolumbar region

  • M48.56 for Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, lumbar region

  • M48.57 for Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, lumbosacral region

  • M48.58 for Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • M48.8 for Other specified spondylopathies

  • M48.8X for Other specified spondylopathies

  • Use M48.9 for Spondylopathy, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to M48: 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 M48, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming M48: 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

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 M48Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for other spondylopathies?

M48 is the ICD-10-CM category for other spondylopathies, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is M48 (Other spondylopathies) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for other spondylopathies, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for other spondylopathies need a more specific code from this category, such as M48.00, M48.01, and M48.02.