2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Q05.6Thoracic spina bifida without hydrocephalus

ICD-10-CM Codes›Q00-Q99›Q00-Q07›Q05

ICD-10-CM Q05.6
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Q05.6 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for thoracic spina bifida without hydrocephalus. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Nervous system congenital anomalies.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Q05.6
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Thoracic spina bifida without hydrocephalus
Short Description
Thoracic spina bifida without hydrocephalus
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Q05
Spina bifida

Code Classification

ChapterQ00-Q99Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
SectionQ00-Q07Congenital malformations of the nervous system
CategoryQ05Spina bifida
This CodeQ05.6Thoracic spina bifida without hydrocephalus

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Q05.6 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Cervicothoracic spina bifida aperta
  • Lumbar spina bifida without hydrocephalus - closed
  • Lumbosacral spina bifida aperta
  • Meningomyelocele
  • Myelocystocele
  • Spina bifida aperta of cervical spine
  • Spina bifida aperta of lumbar spine
  • Spina bifida aperta of thoracic spine
  • Spina bifida aperta of upper thoracic spine
  • Spina bifida of sacral region
  • Spina bifida without hydrocephalus - closed
  • Spina bifida without hydrocephalus - open
  • Thoracic meningomyelocele
  • Thoracic myelocele
  • Thoracic myelocystocele
  • Thoracic spina bifida
  • Thoracic spina bifida without hydrocephalus - closed
  • Thoracic spina bifida without hydrocephalus - open
  • Thoracic spinal meningocele
  • Thoracolumbar spina bifida without hydrocephalus - closed
  • Thoracolumbosacral spina bifida aperta

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Dorsal spina bifida NOS
  • Thoracolumbar spina bifida NOS

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Spina bifida(aperta)
      • dorsal
    • Spina bifida(aperta)
      • thoracic
    • Spina bifida(aperta)
      • thoracolumbar

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR MAL004
Nervous system congenital anomalies
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Meningomyelocele

    congenital, or rarely acquired, herniation of meningeal and spinal cord tissue through a bony defect in the vertebral column. the majority of these defects occur in the lumbosacral region. clinical features include paraplegia, loss of sensation in the lower body, and incontinence. this condition may be associated with the arnold-chiari malformation and hydrocephalus. (from joynt, clinical neurology, 1992, ch55, pp35-6)

  • Thoracic Myelocele

    herniation of spinal cord tissue and meninges through a defect in the thoracic region of the vertebral column. the protrusion of the tissue is flush with the level of the skin surface.

Patient EducationClinical

Spina Bifida

Spina bifida is a neural tube defect - a type of birth defect of the brain, spine, or spinal cord. It happens if the spinal column of the fetus doesn't close completely during the first month of pregnancy. This can damage the nerves and spinal cord. Screening tests during pregnancy can check for spina bifida.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert Q05.6 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
741.92 Spina bifida-dorsal
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

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 Q05.6Overview

Is Q05.6 (Spina bifida) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report thoracic spina bifida without hydrocephalus on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Is Q05.6 exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for thoracic spina bifida without hydrocephalus on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Q05.6?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, thoracic spina bifida without hydrocephalus converts to ICD-9-CM 741.92 (spina bifida-dorsal). The mapping is a direct match.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.