2027 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 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

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
Short Description
Thoracic, thoracolum, and lumbosacral intvrt 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

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to M51: its own notes plus those printed at block M50-M54 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.

From Block M50-M54 Other dorsopathies applies to 133 codes
  • current injury - see injury of spine by body region
  • discitis NOS (M46.4-)

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.

On M51 itself
  • cervical and cervicothoracic disc disorders (M50.-)
  • sacral and sacrococcygeal disorders (M53.3)
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 M51, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 5

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming M51: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • M54.6 Pain in thoracic spine
    pain in thoracic spine due to intervertebral disc disorder (M51.-)
  • S23.0 Traumatic rupture of thoracic intervertebral disc
    rupture or displacement (nontraumatic) of thoracic intervertebral disc NOS (M51.- with fifth character 4)
  • S33 Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of lumbar spine and pelvis
    nontraumatic rupture or displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc NOS (M51.-)
  • S33.0 Traumatic rupture of lumbar intervertebral disc
    rupture or displacement (nontraumatic) of lumbar intervertebral disc NOS (M51.- with fifth character 6)
  • G54 Nerve root and plexus disorders
    intervertebral disc disorders (M50-M51) names M50-M51, which includes this code

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 M51Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders?

M51 is the ICD-10-CM category for thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

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.

Can M51 be reported with a code from M46.4?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at block M50-M54, which applies to M51, lists "discitis NOS (M46.4-)". 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).