M43.6 vs Q68.0
M43.6 (Torticollis) compared with Q68.0 (Congenital deformity of sternocleidomastoid muscle), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.
Can these codes be reported together?
No — do not report together. M43.6 carries an Excludes1 note covering Q68.0: “congenital (sternomastoid) torticollis (Q68.0)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
Side by side
| M43.6Torticollis | Q68.0Congenital deformity of sternocleidomastoid muscle | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Billable | Billable |
| Classification | M00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99) | Q00-Q99 — Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities (Q00-Q99) |
| Definition | Torticollis is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M43.6). | Congenital deformity of sternocleidomastoid muscle is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (Q68.0). |
| Includes | — | Congenital contracture of sternocleidomastoid (muscle) Congenital (sternomastoid) torticollis Sternomastoid tumor (congenital) |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources