2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M51Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M50-M54›M51

ICD-10-CM M51
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

M51 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as M51.04, M51.05, M51.06, and M51.14.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
M51
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders
Chapter
M50-M54
Other dorsopathies

Code Classification

ChapterM00–M99Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
SectionM50-M54Other dorsopathies
CategoryM51Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders
This CodeM51Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders

Specific Coding for Thoracic, thoracolum, and lumbosacral intvrt disc disordersOverview

Non-specific codes like M51 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • M51.0 for Thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy

  • Use M51.04 for Intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy, thoracic region

  • Use M51.05 for Intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M51.06 for Intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy, lumbar region

  • M51.1 for Thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy

  • Use M51.14 for Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, thoracic region

  • Use M51.15 for Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M51.16 for Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, lumbar region

  • Use M51.17 for Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, lumbosacral region

  • M51.2 for Other thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc displacement

  • Use M51.24 for Other intervertebral disc displacement, thoracic region

  • Use M51.25 for Other intervertebral disc displacement, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M51.26 for Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbar region

  • Use M51.27 for Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbosacral region

  • M51.3 for Other thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc degeneration

  • Use M51.34 for Other intervertebral disc degeneration, thoracic region

  • Use M51.35 for Other intervertebral disc degeneration, thoracolumbar region

  • M51.36 for Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region

  • M51.37 for Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbosacral region

  • M51.4 for Schmorl's nodes

  • Use M51.44 for Schmorl's nodes, thoracic region

  • Use M51.45 for Schmorl's nodes, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M51.46 for Schmorl's nodes, lumbar region

  • Use M51.47 for Schmorl's nodes, lumbosacral region

  • M51.8 for Other thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders

  • Use M51.84 for Other intervertebral disc disorders, thoracic region

  • Use M51.85 for Other intervertebral disc disorders, thoracolumbar region

  • Use M51.86 for Other intervertebral disc disorders, lumbar region

  • Use M51.87 for Other intervertebral disc disorders, lumbosacral region

  • Use M51.9 for Unspecified thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorder

  • M51.A for Other lumbar and lumbosacral annulus fibrosus disc defects

  • Use M51.A0 for Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, lumbar region, unspecified size

  • Use M51.A1 for Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, small, lumbar region

  • Use M51.A2 for Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, large, lumbar region

  • Use M51.A3 for Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, lumbosacral region, unspecified size

  • Use M51.A4 for Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, small, lumbosacral region

  • Use M51.A5 for Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, large, lumbosacral region

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Type 2 Excludes

  • cervical and cervicothoracic disc disorders M50
  • sacral and sacrococcygeal disorders M53.3

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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About M51Overview

Is M51 a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders need a more specific code from this category, such as M51.04, M51.05, and M51.06.