ICD-10 code for vertebra osteomyelitis

The ICD-10-CM code for vertebra osteomyelitis is M46.20 (Osteomyelitis of vertebra, site unspecified). The official index lists 8 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on M46.20.

Within M46.2, choose M46.20 (site unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: occipito-atlanto-axial region (M46.21), cervical region (M46.22), cervicothoracic region (M46.23), thoracic region (M46.24), thoracolumbar region (M46.25), lumbar region (M46.26), lumbosacral region (M46.27) and sacral and sacrococcygeal region (M46.28).

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 456 (Spinal Fusion Except Cervical with Spinal Curvature, Malignancy, or Infection with MCC, relative weight 7.6244), DRG 457 (Spinal Fusion Except Cervical with Spinal Curvature, Malignancy, or Infection with CC, relative weight 5.3668), DRG 458 (Spinal Fusion Except Cervical with Spinal Curvature, Malignancy, or Infection without CC/MCC, relative weight 4.0388), 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.