M49
Header — not billableSpondylopathies in diseases classified elsewhere
The ICD-10 code for spondylopathies in diseases classified elsewhere is M49.
M49 is a non-billable header code. It groups related conditions but cannot be used on its own for reimbursement — select one of the 1 more specific codes below.
Clinical notes
Code first
This code represents a manifestation of an underlying disease. Coding convention requires the underlying (etiology) code to be sequenced first, with this code listed second.
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).
- curvature of spine in tuberculosis [Pott's] (A18.01)
- enteropathic arthropathies (M07.-)
- gonococcal spondylitis (A54.41)
- neuropathic [tabes dorsalis] spondylitis (A52.11)
- neuropathic spondylopathy in syringomyelia (G95.0)
- neuropathic spondylopathy in tabes dorsalis (A52.11)
- nonsyphilitic neuropathic spondylopathy NEC (G98.0)
- spondylitis in syphilis (acquired) (A52.77)
- tuberculous spondylitis (A18.01)
- typhoid fever spondylitis (A01.05)
Includes
Terms listed here further define or give examples of the conditions grouped under this code — they describe what the code covers, not a separate diagnosis.
- curvature of spine in diseases classified elsewhere
- deformity of spine in diseases classified elsewhere
- kyphosis in diseases classified elsewhere
- scoliosis in diseases classified elsewhere
- spondylopathy in diseases classified elsewhere
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 code represents a manifestation. Documentation should identify the underlying condition, which must be coded first.
- •As a general rule, code to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation in the medical record.
Child codes under M49
Related codes in this category
- M45Ankylosing spondylitisnon-billable header
- M46Other inflammatory spondylopathiesnon-billable header
- M47Spondylosisnon-billable header
- M48Other spondylopathiesnon-billable header
- M49Spondylopathies in diseases classified elsewherenon-billable header