Version 2024
Non-Billable Code

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M48.4

Fatigue fracture of vertebra

ICD-10-CM:
M48.4
Short Description:
Fatigue fracture of vertebra
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
    (M00–M99)
    • Spondylopathies
      (M45-M49)
      • Other spondylopathies
        (M48)

M48.4 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of fatigue fracture of vertebra. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Fatigue fracture of vertebra

Non-specific codes like M48.4 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for fatigue fracture of vertebra:

  • NON-BILLABLE CODE - M48.40 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, site unspecified

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.40XA for initial encounter for fracture

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.40XD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.40XG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.40XS for sequela of fracture

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

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.41XA for initial encounter for fracture

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.41XD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.41XG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.41XS for sequela of fracture

  • NON-BILLABLE CODE - M48.42 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical region

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.42XA for initial encounter for fracture

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.42XD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.42XG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.42XS for sequela of fracture

  • NON-BILLABLE CODE - M48.43 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervicothoracic region

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.43XA for initial encounter for fracture

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.43XD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.43XG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.43XS for sequela of fracture

  • NON-BILLABLE CODE - M48.44 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, thoracic region

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.44XA for initial encounter for fracture

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.44XD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.44XG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.44XS for sequela of fracture

  • NON-BILLABLE CODE - M48.45 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, thoracolumbar region

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.45XA for initial encounter for fracture

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.45XD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.45XG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.45XS for sequela of fracture

  • NON-BILLABLE CODE - M48.46 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, lumbar region

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.46XA for initial encounter for fracture

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.46XD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.46XG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.46XS for sequela of fracture

  • NON-BILLABLE CODE - M48.47 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, lumbosacral region

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.47XA for initial encounter for fracture

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.47XD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.47XG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.47XS for sequela of fracture

  • NON-BILLABLE CODE - M48.48 for Fatigue fracture of vertebra, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.48XA for initial encounter for fracture

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.48XD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.48XG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing

  • BILLABLE CODE - Use M48.48XS for sequela of fracture

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Inclusion Terms

Inclusion Terms
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
  • Stress fracture of vertebra

Type 1 Excludes

Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
  • pathological fracture NOS M84.4
  • pathological fracture of vertebra due to neoplasm M84.58
  • pathological fracture of vertebra due to other diagnosis M84.68
  • pathological fracture of vertebra due to osteoporosis M80
  • traumatic fracture of vertebrae S12.0 S12.3 S22.0 S32.0

7th Character Note

7th Character Note
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from subcategory M48.4:

7th Character

7th Character
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
  • A - initial encounter for fracture
  • D - subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
  • G - subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
  • S - sequela of fracture

Patient Education


Fractures

A fracture is a break, usually in a bone. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an open or compound fracture. Fractures commonly happen because of car accidents, falls, or sports injuries. Other causes are low bone density and osteoporosis, which cause weakening of the bones. Overuse can cause stress fractures, which are very small cracks in the bone.

Symptoms of a fracture are:

  • Intense pain
  • Deformity - the limb looks out of place
  • Swelling, bruising, or tenderness around the injury
  • Numbness and tingling
  • Problems moving a limb

You need to get medical care right away for any fracture. An x-ray can tell if your bone is broken. You may need to wear a cast or splint. Sometimes you need surgery to put in plates, pins or screws to keep the bone in place.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

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:

  • Infections
  • Injuries
  • Tumors
  • Conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis and scoliosis
  • Bone changes that come with age, such as spinal stenosis and herniated disks

Spinal diseases often cause pain when bone changes put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. They can also limit movement. Treatments differ by disease, but sometimes they include back braces and surgery.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.