ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for acute osteomyelitis
Other acute osteomyelitis, unspecified site
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Osteomyelitis (general) (infective) (localized) (neonatal) (purulent) (septic) (staphylococcal) (streptococcal) (suppurative) (with periostitis) › acute”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding acute osteomyelitis
The ICD-10-CM code for acute osteomyelitis is M86.10 (Other acute osteomyelitis, unspecified site). The official index lists 45 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on M86.10.
Within M86.1, choose M86.10 (unspecified site) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: shoulder (M86.11), humerus (M86.12), radius and ulna (M86.13), hand (M86.14), femur (M86.15), tibia and fibula (M86.16), ankle and foot (M86.17), other site (M86.18) and 1 more.
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.
More specific acute osteomyelitis codes (official index)
- carpus M86.14 — Other acute osteomyelitis, hand
- clavicle M86.11 — Other acute osteomyelitis, shoulder
- femur M86.15 — Other acute osteomyelitis, femur
- fibula M86.16 — Other acute osteomyelitis, tibia and fibula
- finger M86.14 — Other acute osteomyelitis, hand
- hematogenous M86.00 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, unspecified site
- carpus M86.04 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, hand
- clavicle M86.01 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, shoulder
- femur M86.05 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, femur
- fibula M86.06 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, tibia and fibula
- finger M86.04 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, hand
- humerus M86.02 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, humerus
- ilium M86.08 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, other sites
- ischium M86.08 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, other sites
- mandible M27.2 — Inflammatory conditions of jaws
- metacarpus M86.04 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, hand
- metatarsus M86.07 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, ankle and foot
- multiple sites M86.09 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, multiple sites
- neck M86.08 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, other sites
- orbit H05.02 — Osteomyelitis of orbit
- petrous bone
- radius M86.03 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, radius and ulna
- rib M86.08 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, other sites
- scapula M86.01 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, shoulder
- skull M86.08 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, other sites
- tarsus M86.07 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, ankle and foot
- tibia M86.06 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, tibia and fibula
- toe M86.07 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, ankle and foot
- ulna M86.03 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, radius and ulna
- vertebra
- humerus M86.12 — Other acute osteomyelitis, humerus
- ilium M86.18 — Other acute osteomyelitis, other site
- ischium M86.18 — Other acute osteomyelitis, other site
- mandible M27.2 — Inflammatory conditions of jaws
- metacarpus M86.14 — Other acute osteomyelitis, hand
- metatarsus M86.17 — Other acute osteomyelitis, ankle and foot
- multiple sites M86.19 — Other acute osteomyelitis, multiple sites
- neck M86.18 — Other acute osteomyelitis, other site
- orbit H05.02 — Osteomyelitis of orbit
- petrous bone
- radius M86.13 — Other acute osteomyelitis, radius and ulna
- rib M86.18 — Other acute osteomyelitis, other site
- scapula M86.11 — Other acute osteomyelitis, shoulder
- skull M86.18 — Other acute osteomyelitis, other site
- tarsus M86.17 — Other acute osteomyelitis, ankle and foot
- tibia M86.16 — Other acute osteomyelitis, tibia and fibula
- toe M86.17 — Other acute osteomyelitis, ankle and foot
- ulna M86.13 — Other acute osteomyelitis, radius and ulna
- vertebra
Common questions about acute osteomyelitis ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for acute osteomyelitis?
- M86.10 — Other acute osteomyelitis, unspecified site. More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: M86.14, M86.11, M86.15, M86.16 and others below.
What is the ICD-10 code for carpus acute osteomyelitis?
- M86.14 — Other acute osteomyelitis, hand (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for clavicle acute osteomyelitis?
- M86.11 — Other acute osteomyelitis, shoulder (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for femur acute osteomyelitis?
- M86.15 — Other acute osteomyelitis, femur (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for fibula acute osteomyelitis?
- M86.16 — Other acute osteomyelitis, tibia and fibula (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for finger acute osteomyelitis?
- M86.14 — Other acute osteomyelitis, hand (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for hematogenous acute osteomyelitis?
- M86.00 — Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis, unspecified site.
Is M86.10 billable?
- Yes. M86.10 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can M86.10 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict M86.10 as a principal diagnosis.
Is M86.10 a CC or MCC?
- M86.10 is a CC (complication or comorbidity) under MS-DRG v44.0, unless excluded by the principal diagnosis.