Coding and coverage · ICD-10-CM

M43

M43.2 Fusion of spine

Not billable (header)Chapter 13

Report one of the more specific codes below.

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Codes under this one

  • M43.20 Fusion of spine, site unspecified
  • M43.21 Fusion of spine, occipito-atlanto-axial region
  • M43.22 Fusion of spine, cervical region
  • M43.23 Fusion of spine, cervicothoracic region
  • M43.24 Fusion of spine, thoracic region
  • M43.25 Fusion of spine, thoracolumbar region
  • M43.26 Fusion of spine, lumbar region
  • M43.27 Fusion of spine, lumbosacral region
  • M43.28 Fusion of spine, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

Instructional notes

Chapter 13

Excludes2Not included here: the patient may have both; report both when both are present.
  • arthropathic psoriasis (L40.5-)
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • compartment syndrome (traumatic) (T79.A-)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
Notes
  • Use an external cause code following the code for the musculoskeletal condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the musculoskeletal condition

M43

Excludes1Not coded here: never report with this code, except when the two conditions are unrelated.
  • congenital spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis (Q76.2)
  • hemivertebra (Q76.3-Q76.4)
  • Klippel-Feil syndrome (Q76.1)
  • lumbarization and sacralization (Q76.4)
  • platyspondylisis (Q76.4)
  • spina bifida occulta (Q76.0)
  • spinal curvature in osteoporosis (M80.-)
  • spinal curvature in Paget's disease of bone [osteitis deformans] (M88.-)

This code

Excludes1Not coded here: never report with this code, except when the two conditions are unrelated.
  • ankylosing spondylitis (M45.0-)
  • congenital fusion of spine (Q76.4)
Excludes2Not included here: the patient may have both; report both when both are present.
  • arthrodesis status (Z98.1)
  • pseudoarthrosis after fusion or arthrodesis (M96.0)
Inclusion terms
  • Ankylosis of spinal joint

Chapter 13: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue · M40-M54 Dorsopathies (M40-M54)

Source: ICD-10-CM FY 2027 code descriptions and tabular list (CMS and CDC National Center for Health Statistics), effective 2026-10-01 through 2027-09-30 · CMS ICD-10 files. HCC mapping: CMS-HCC V28, payment year 2027. As of 2026-11-04.

Coverage and payment depend on the claim details; confirm with the Medicare Administrative Contractor.