Other inflammatory spondylopathies (M46) ICD-10-CM
The M46 code range covers other inflammatory spondylopathies with 78 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 70 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2026, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Codes in the M46 Range 78 codes · 70 billable
- M46 Other inflammatory spondylopathiesNon-billable
- M46.0 Spinal enthesopathyNon-billable
- M46.00 Spinal enthesopathy, site unspecified
- M46.01 Spinal enthesopathy, occipito-atlanto-axial region
- M46.02 Spinal enthesopathy, cervical region
- M46.03 Spinal enthesopathy, cervicothoracic region
- M46.04 Spinal enthesopathy, thoracic region
- M46.05 Spinal enthesopathy, thoracolumbar region
- M46.06 Spinal enthesopathy, lumbar region
- M46.07 Spinal enthesopathy, lumbosacral region
- M46.08 Spinal enthesopathy, sacral and sacrococcygeal region
- M46.09 Spinal enthesopathy, multiple sites in spine
- M46.1 Sacroiliitis, not elsewhere classified
- M46.2 Osteomyelitis of vertebraNon-billable
- M46.20 Osteomyelitis of vertebra, site unspecified
- M46.21 Osteomyelitis of vertebra, occipito-atlanto-axial region
- M46.22 Osteomyelitis of vertebra, cervical region
- M46.23 Osteomyelitis of vertebra, cervicothoracic region
- M46.24 Osteomyelitis of vertebra, thoracic region
- M46.25 Osteomyelitis of vertebra, thoracolumbar region
- M46.26 Osteomyelitis of vertebra, lumbar region
- M46.27 Osteomyelitis of vertebra, lumbosacral region
- M46.28 Osteomyelitis of vertebra, sacral and sacrococcygeal region
- M46.3 Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic)Non-billable
- M46.30 Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), site unspecified
- M46.31 Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), occipito-atlanto-axial region
- M46.32 Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), cervical region
- M46.33 Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), cervicothoracic region
- M46.34 Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), thoracic region
- M46.35 Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), thoracolumbar region
- M46.36 Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbar region
- M46.37 Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbosacral region
- M46.38 Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), sacral and sacrococcygeal region
- M46.39 Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), multiple sites in spine
- M46.4 Discitis, unspecifiedNon-billable
- M46.40 Discitis, unspecified, site unspecified
- M46.41 Discitis, unspecified, occipito-atlanto-axial region
- M46.42 Discitis, unspecified, cervical region
- M46.43 Discitis, unspecified, cervicothoracic region
- M46.44 Discitis, unspecified, thoracic region
- M46.45 Discitis, unspecified, thoracolumbar region
- M46.46 Discitis, unspecified, lumbar region
- M46.47 Discitis, unspecified, lumbosacral region
- M46.48 Discitis, unspecified, sacral and sacrococcygeal region
- M46.49 Discitis, unspecified, multiple sites in spine
- M46.5 Other infective spondylopathiesNon-billable
- M46.50 Other infective spondylopathies, site unspecified
- M46.51 Other infective spondylopathies, occipito-atlanto-axial region
- M46.52 Other infective spondylopathies, cervical region
- M46.53 Other infective spondylopathies, cervicothoracic region
- M46.54 Other infective spondylopathies, thoracic region
- M46.55 Other infective spondylopathies, thoracolumbar region
- M46.56 Other infective spondylopathies, lumbar region
- M46.57 Other infective spondylopathies, lumbosacral region
- M46.58 Other infective spondylopathies, sacral and sacrococcygeal region
- M46.59 Other infective spondylopathies, multiple sites in spine
- M46.8 Other specified inflammatory spondylopathiesNon-billable
- M46.80 Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, site unspecified
- M46.81 Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, occipito-atlanto-axial region
- M46.82 Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, cervical region
- M46.83 Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, cervicothoracic region
- M46.84 Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, thoracic region
- M46.85 Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, thoracolumbar region
- M46.86 Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, lumbar region
- M46.87 Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, lumbosacral region
- M46.88 Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, sacral and sacrococcygeal region
- M46.89 Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, multiple sites in spine
- M46.9 Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathyNon-billable
- M46.90 Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, site unspecified
- M46.91 Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, occipito-atlanto-axial region
- M46.92 Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, cervical region
- M46.93 Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, cervicothoracic region
- M46.94 Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, thoracic region
- M46.95 Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, thoracolumbar region
- M46.96 Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, lumbar region
- M46.97 Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, lumbosacral region
- M46.98 Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, sacral and sacrococcygeal region
- M46.99 Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy, multiple sites in spine
Clinical Terms in This Code Range
Definitions from the National Library of Medicine for conditions coded in the M46 range.
Axial Spondyloarthritis
A spectrum of chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the axial joints (e.g., SPINE), characterized by pain, stiffness of joints (ANKYLOSIS), reduced mobility and inflammation. When joint inflammation and damage are visible on regular X-rays it is called ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS; otherwise it is referred to as NON-RADIOGRAPHIC AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS. HLA-B27 ANTIGEN is a biomarker and IL-23/IL-17 pathway a potential therapeutic target for axial and other related spondyloarthritis.
Discitis
Inflammation of an INTERVERTEBRAL DISC or disk space which may lead to disk erosion. Until recently, discitis has been defined as a nonbacterial inflammation and has been attributed to aseptic processes (e.g., chemical reaction to an injected substance). However, recent studies provide evidence that infection may be the initial cause, but perhaps not the promoter, of most cases of discitis. Discitis has been diagnosed in patients following discography, myelography, lumbar puncture, paravertebral injection, and obstetrical epidural anesthesia. Discitis following chemonucleolysis (especially with chymopapain) is attributed to chemical reaction by some and to introduction of microorganisms by others.
Intervertebral Disc
Any of the 23 plates of fibrocartilage found between the bodies of adjacent VERTEBRAE.
Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis
Chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the axial joints which cannot be detectable on x-rays. It is characterized by pain, stiffness of joints and inflammation. Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis can have symptoms onset before the age of 45 and progress to more severe ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS over time.
Spine
The spinal or vertebral column.
Spondylarthropathies
Heterogeneous group of arthritic diseases sharing clinical and radiologic features. They are associated with the HLA-B27 ANTIGEN and some with a triggering infection. Most involve the axial joints in the SPINE, particularly the SACROILIAC JOINT, but can also involve asymmetric peripheral joints. Subsets include ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS; REACTIVE ARTHRITIS; PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS; and others.
Spondylitis
Inflammation of the SPINE. This includes both arthritic and non-arthritic conditions.
Spondylitis, Ankylosing
A chronic inflammatory condition affecting the axial joints, such as the SACROILIAC JOINT and other intervertebral or costovertebral joints. It occurs predominantly in young males and is characterized by pain and stiffness of joints (ANKYLOSIS) with inflammation at tendon insertions.
About the M46 Code Range
ICD-10 code section M46 covers a range of other inflammatory spondylopathies, which are inflammatory conditions affecting various parts of the spine. These codes help specify diagnosis based on the location and type of inflammation, including conditions such as spinal enthesopathy, sacroiliitis, osteomyelitis of vertebra, discitis, and other infective spondylopathies.
This section is used to classify inflammation in specific areas of the spine, from the occipito-atlanto-axial region down to the sacral and sacrococcygeal regions. For example, the ICD-10 code for spinal enthesopathy (M46.0) addresses inflammation of tendon or ligament insertions in the spine, sometimes linked to parasitic infections, also known as spondyloarthritis. Sacroiliitis (M46.1) codes diagnose inflammation of the sacroiliac joints, a key feature in certain arthritic disorders. Infections such as vertebral osteomyelitis (M46.2) and pyogenic intervertebral disc infections (M46.3) are separated by site specificity, crucial for accurate treatment. Unspecified inflammatory spondylopathies (M46.9) cover cases where exact location or cause has not been identified. This detailed classification aids medical coders and healthcare providers in documenting precise spinal inflammatory conditions.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the M46 range?
Of the 78 codes in this range, 70 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the M46 range classify?
The range classifies other inflammatory spondylopathies. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
