Coding and coverage · ICD-10-CM

M48

M48.5 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified

Not billable (header)Chapter 13

This code needs a 7th character (use X as a placeholder for missing characters).

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Codes under this one

  • M48.50 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, site unspecifiedHeader
  • M48.51 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, occipito-atlanto-axial regionHeader
  • M48.52 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, cervical regionHeader
  • M48.53 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, cervicothoracic regionHeader
  • M48.54 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, thoracic regionHeader
  • M48.55 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, thoracolumbar regionHeader
  • M48.56 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, lumbar regionHeader
  • M48.57 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, lumbosacral regionHeader
  • M48.58 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, sacral and sacrococcygeal regionHeader

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

This code

Excludes1Not coded here: never report with this code, except when the two conditions are unrelated.
  • current injury - see Injury of spine, by body region
  • fatigue fracture of vertebra (M48.4)
  • pathological fracture of vertebra due to neoplasm (M84.58)
  • pathological fracture of vertebra due to other diagnosis (M84.68)
  • pathological fracture of vertebra due to osteoporosis (M80.-)
  • pathological fracture NOS (M84.4-)
  • stress fracture of vertebra (M48.4-)
  • traumatic fracture of vertebra (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-)
Inclusion terms
  • Collapsed vertebra NOS
  • Compression fracture of vertebra NOS
  • Wedging of vertebra NOS
7th charactersThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from subcategory M48.5:
  • A initial encounter for fracture
  • D subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
  • G subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
  • S sequela of fracture

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.