ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code
M46.2Osteomyelitis of vertebra
M46.2 is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself. Choose one of the 9 more specific codes beneath it.
Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data
About M46.2
M46.2 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for osteomyelitis of vertebra. It belongs to category M46 (other inflammatory spondylopathies), block M45-M49 (spondylopathies) 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 M46 (other inflammatory spondylopathies), M46.2 is specifically for osteomyelitis of vertebra. Related codes cover spinal enthesopathy (M46.0), Sacroiliitis, not elsewhere classified (M46.1), infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic) (M46.3), Discitis, unspecified (M46.4), other infective spondylopathies (M46.5), other specified inflammatory spondylopathies (M46.8) and unspecified inflammatory spondylopathy (M46.9).
To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: M46.20 (site unspecified), M46.21 (occipito-atlanto-axial region), M46.22 (cervical region), M46.23 (cervicothoracic region), M46.24 (thoracic region), M46.25 (thoracolumbar region), M46.26 (lumbar region), M46.27 (lumbosacral region) and 1 more.
It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.
Specific codes under M46.2
- M46.20Osteomyelitis of vertebra, site unspecifiedBillable
- M46.21Osteomyelitis of vertebra, occipito-atlanto-axial regionBillable
- M46.22Osteomyelitis of vertebra, cervical regionBillable
- M46.23Osteomyelitis of vertebra, cervicothoracic regionBillable
- M46.24Osteomyelitis of vertebra, thoracic regionBillable
- M46.25Osteomyelitis of vertebra, thoracolumbar regionBillable
- M46.26Osteomyelitis of vertebra, lumbar regionBillable
- M46.27Osteomyelitis of vertebra, lumbosacral regionBillable
- M46.28Osteomyelitis of vertebra, sacral and sacrococcygeal regionBillable
Notes that apply from higher levels
Instructions written at a parent level also apply to M46.2.
Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 13: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue.
Codes whose notes reference M46.2
- M86Excludes2
Code history
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
- 2027
- FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
- No changes since FY2016.
Common questions about M46.2
Is M46.2 billable?
- No. M46.2 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.