M48.5
Header — not billableCollapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified
The ICD-10 code for collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified is M48.5.
M48.5 is a non-billable header code. It groups related conditions but cannot be used on its own for reimbursement — select one of the 9 more specific codes below.
Clinical notes
Excludes1 (not coded here)
An Excludes1 note is a pure exclusion: the excluded condition and this code should never be reported together, because the two conditions cannot occur at the same time (e.g. a congenital form vs. an acquired form of the same disease).
- current injury - see Injury of spine, by body region
- fatigue fracture of vertebra (M48.4)
- pathological fracture of vertebra due to neoplasm (M84.58)
- pathological fracture of vertebra due to other diagnosis (M84.68)
- pathological fracture of vertebra due to osteoporosis (M80.-)
- pathological fracture NOS (M84.4-)
- stress fracture of vertebra (M48.4-)
- traumatic fracture of vertebra (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-)
Also known as
Alternate wording, synonyms, or specific conditions that fall under this code, listed to help confirm you've picked the right one.
- Collapsed vertebra NOS
- Compression fracture of vertebra NOS
- Wedging of vertebra NOS
7th character definitions
These definitions specify what each valid 7th-character value means for codes in this category.
- [object Object]
7th character note
This category requires a 7th character to indicate additional clinical detail (e.g. encounter type: initial, subsequent, sequela). The code is incomplete without it.
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from subcategory M48.5:
Documentation support
General coding-documentation guidance — not a substitute for payer-specific requirements or professional coding judgment.
- •This is a non-billable header code. Documentation must support a more specific child code before this diagnosis can be reported on a claim.
- •Confirm the excluded condition(s) listed above are not also present — Excludes1 conditions cannot be coded together with this one.
- •This category requires a 7th character. Documentation should clearly indicate the episode of care (initial encounter, subsequent encounter, or sequela).
- •As a general rule, code to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation in the medical record.
Child codes under M48.5
- M48.50Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, site unspecified
- M48.51Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, occipito-atlanto-axial region
- M48.52Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, cervical region
- M48.53Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, cervicothoracic region
- M48.54Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, thoracic region
- M48.55Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, thoracolumbar region
- M48.56Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, lumbar region
- M48.57Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, lumbosacral region
- M48.58Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, sacral and sacrococcygeal region
Related codes in this category
- M48.0Spinal stenosisnon-billable header
- M48.1Ankylosing hyperostosis [Forestier]non-billable header
- M48.2Kissing spinenon-billable header
- M48.3Traumatic spondylopathynon-billable header
- M48.4Fatigue fracture of vertebranon-billable header
- M48.8Other specified spondylopathiesnon-billable header
- M48.9Spondylopathy, unspecified
- M48.5Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classifiednon-billable header