M43.2Fusion of spine

M43.2 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for fusion of spine. It belongs to category M43 (other deforming dorsopathies), block M40-M43 (deforming dorsopathies) 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 M43 (other deforming dorsopathies), M43.2 is specifically for fusion of spine. Related codes cover Spondylolysis (M43.0), spondylolisthesis (M43.1), recurrent atlantoaxial dislocation with myelopathy (M43.3), other recurrent atlantoaxial dislocation (M43.4), other recurrent vertebral dislocation (M43.5), torticollis (M43.6), other specified deforming dorsopathies (M43.8) and deforming dorsopathy, unspecified (M43.9).

To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: M43.20 (site unspecified), M43.21 (occipito-atlanto-axial region), M43.22 (cervical region), M43.23 (cervicothoracic region), M43.24 (thoracic region), M43.25 (thoracolumbar region), M43.26 (lumbar region), M43.27 (lumbosacral region) and 1 more.

Don't report M43.2 together with the conditions in its Excludes1 note: ankylosing spondylitis (M45.0-) and congenital fusion of spine (Q76.4).

The conditions in its Excludes2 note aren't part of M43.2, but may be coded alongside it if the patient has both: arthrodesis status (Z98.1) and pseudoarthrosis after fusion or arthrodesis (M96.0).

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