M86.249Subacute osteomyelitis, unspecified hand

M86.249 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for subacute osteomyelitis, unspecified hand. It belongs to category M86 (osteomyelitis), block M86-M90 (other osteopathies) and chapter 13 (diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within M86.24, choose M86.249 (unspecified hand) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: right hand (M86.241) and left hand (M86.242).

Use an additional code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent. Use an additional code to identify major osseous defect, if applicable (M89.7-).

As a secondary diagnosis it is a CC (complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the "with CC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 539 (Osteomyelitis with MCC, relative weight 1.9385), DRG 540 (Osteomyelitis with CC, relative weight 1.3079) and DRG 541 (Osteomyelitis without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.8297), in MDC 08 (Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It is an unspecified code for which a more specific option (often laterality) exists, and the Medicare Code Editor flags it for review on inpatient claims.

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

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 730.04 (acute osteomyelitis, hand).