2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M48.42XGFatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical region, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
M48.42XG is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical region, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing. The 7th character G means subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 559 through 561. Coders also document this condition as stress fracture of cervical vertebra. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Stress fracture, subsequent encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Stress fracture of cervical vertebra
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to M48.42XG: its own notes plus those printed at M48.4 and Chapter 13. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.
Excludes1
Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
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.
- arthropathic psoriasis (L40.5-)
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- 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.
- Use an external cause code following the code for the musculoskeletal condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the musculoskeletal condition
7th Character
Every code in the category takes a 7th character from the listed values, with the placeholder X filling any empty positions before it.
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from subcategory M48.4:
- Ainitial encounter for fracture
- Dsubsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- Gsubsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing this code
- Ssequela of fracture
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.
Referenced in Other NotesGuidance
Instructional notes printed at other codes that name M48.42XG, its category, or a range that includes it.
Excludes1 3
These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming M48.42XG: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
- G55 Nerve root and plexus compressions in diseases classified elsewherenerve root compression (due to) (in) spondylopathies (M46.-, M48.-) names M48.-, which includes this code
- M48.5 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classifiedfatigue fracture of vertebra (M48.4) names M48.4, which includes this code
- M48.5 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classifiedstress fracture of vertebra (M48.4-) names M48.4-, which includes this code
Excludes2 2
These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming M48.42XG: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Fractures
A fracture is a break in a bone. Fractures are usually caused by injuries. Since they can sometimes be serious, it's important to get medical care right away if you think you have a fracture.
The full article covers:
- What is a fracture?
- What are the different types of fractures?
- What causes fractures?
- What are the symptoms of a fracture?
- How are fractures diagnosed?
- What are the treatments for fractures?
- Can fractures be prevented?
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert M48.42XG to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About M48.42XGOverview
Is M48.42XG (Fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical region) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical region, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What does the 7th character G in M48.42XG mean?
The final character G reports a subsequent encounter where the fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical region is healing more slowly than expected. In this category the CMS Tabular List defines G as "subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing".
What MS-DRG does M48.42XG group to?
When fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical region, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 559, 561, 560, with relative weights from 0.8258 to 1.8087 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Can M48.42XG be reported with a code from M84.4?
Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at M48.4, which applies to M48.42XG, lists "pathological fracture NOS (M84.4-)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of M48.42XG?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical region, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing converts to ICD-9-CM V54.27 (aftrcare path fx vertebr). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
