M46.2 (Osteomyelitis of vertebra) compared with M86.8X52 (Other osteomyelitis, left thigh), from the official CMS tabular data. Both may be reported when both conditions are documented (Excludes2). MedCoder-derived
Distinct conditions — both may be reported.
“vertebra (M46.2-)”
An Excludes2 note means the excluded condition is not part of the code above it, but a patient can have both. Report both when both are documented.
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes
Yes, when both are documented. M86.8X52 carries an Excludes2 note covering M46.2: “vertebra (M46.2-)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
| M46.2Osteomyelitis of vertebra | M86.8X52Other osteomyelitis, left thigh | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Billable |
| Classification | M00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99) | M00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99) |
| Definition | Osteomyelitis of vertebra is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (M46.2). | Other osteomyelitis, left thigh is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M86.8X52). |
| Use additional code | — | code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent code to identify major osseous defect, if applicable (M89.7-) |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources