2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M86.8X69Other osteomyelitis, unspecified lower leg

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M86-M90›M86

ICD-10-CM M86.8X69
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

M86.8X69 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other osteomyelitis, unspecified lower leg. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 400, 539 through 541. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) and moves an inpatient stay to a higher severity level within its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 221 closely related codes. The code is flagged as an unspecified code, since codes identifying laterality exist in the same family.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
M86.8X69
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other osteomyelitis, unspecified lower leg
Short Description
Other osteomyelitis, unspecified lower leg
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
M86.8X6
Other osteomyelitis, lower leg

Code Classification

ChapterM00–M99Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
SectionM86-M90Other osteopathies
CategoryM86Osteomyelitis
This CodeM86.8X69Other osteomyelitis, unspecified lower leg

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for M86.8X69.

Unspecified codes
Unspecified codes exist in the ICD-10-CM classification for circumstances when documentation in the medical record does not provide the level of detail needed to support reporting a more specific code. However, in the inpatient setting, there should generally be very limited and rare circumstances for which the laterality (right, left, bilateral) of a condition is unable to be documented and reported. The following pages contain the list of unspecified ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes for which there is a more specific code to identify laterality (right, left, bilateral) within that code family.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Abscess of lower leg
  • Acute osteomyelitis of knee
  • Acute osteomyelitis of patella
  • Brodie's abscess
  • Brodie's abscess of tibia
  • Chronic abscess of lower leg
  • Infection of patella
  • Infection of tibia
  • Osteomyelitis of knee
  • Periostitis of lower leg
  • Sesamoiditis
  • Subacute osteomyelitis of tibia

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to M86.8X69: its own notes plus those printed at M86, block M86-M90, 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 M86 Osteomyelitis applies to 195 codes
From Block M86-M90 Other osteopathies applies to 732 codes
  • postprocedural osteopathies (M96.-)

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 M86 Osteomyelitis applies to 195 codes
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)

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From M86 Osteomyelitis applies to 195 codes
  • code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent
  • code to identify major osseous defect, if applicable (M89.7-)

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 M86.8X69, its category, or a range that includes it.

Code First 1

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and M86.8X69 is one of the conditions named.

  • M89.7 Major osseous defect
    osteomyelitis (M86.-) names M86.-, which includes this code

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Osteomyelitis

    inflammation of the bone as a result of infection. it may be caused by a variety of infectious agents, especially pyogenic (pus - producing) bacteria.

Code History & ChangesHistory

New Code M86.8X69 was added to the ICD-10-CM code set for FY 2027, effective October 1, 2026.

Replacement M86.8X69 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • M86.8X6 - Other osteomyelitis, lower leg
FY 2027AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2026.
FY 2027CurrentRevised in the current code setEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About M86.8X69Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for other osteomyelitis, unspecified lower leg?

The ICD-10-CM code for other osteomyelitis, unspecified lower leg is M86.8X69 (sometimes written as M868X69). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is M86.8X69 (Other osteomyelitis, lower leg) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other osteomyelitis, unspecified lower leg on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does M86.8X69 group to?

When other osteomyelitis, unspecified lower leg is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 541, 400, 539, 540, with relative weights from 0.8293 to 2.0249 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is M86.8X69 a CC or MCC?

CMS lists M86.8X69 as a CC (complication or comorbidity) for FY 2027. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it moves the inpatient stay to a higher-weighted DRG within its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 221 closely related codes in its exclusion list.

Can M86.8X69 be reported with B67.2?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at M86, which applies to M86.8X69, lists "echinococcus (B67.2)". 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).