M25.3Other instability of joint

M25.3 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other instability of joint. It belongs to category M25 (other joint disorder, not elsewhere classified), block M20-M25 (other joint disorders) and chapter 13 (diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 9 subcodes must be used instead.

Within M25, choose M25.3 (Other instability of joint) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: Hemarthrosis (M25.0), fistula of joint (M25.1), Flail joint (M25.2), effusion of joint (M25.4), pain in joint (M25.5), Stiffness of joint, not elsewhere classified (M25.6), Osteophyte (M25.7), other specified joint disorders (M25.8) and 1 more.

To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: M25.30 (joint), M25.31 (shoulder), M25.32 (elbow), M25.33 (wrist), M25.34 (hand), M25.35 (hip), M25.36 (knee), M25.37 (foot) and 1 more.

Don't report M25.3 together with the conditions in its Excludes1 note: instability of joint secondary to old ligament injury (M24.2-) and instability of joint secondary to removal of joint prosthesis (M96.8-).

The conditions in its Excludes2 note aren't part of M25.3, but may be coded alongside it if the patient has both: spinal instabilities (M53.2-).

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.