M48.5 vs M84.4
M48.5 (Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified) compared with M84.4 (Pathological fracture, not elsewhere classified), 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. M48.5 carries an Excludes1 note covering M84.4: “pathological fracture NOS (M84.4-)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
No — do not report together. M84.4 carries an Excludes1 note covering M48.5: “collapsed vertebra NEC (M48.5)”
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
| M48.5Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified | M84.4Pathological fracture, not elsewhere classified | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header Report instead: M48.50XA, M48.50XD, M48.50XG, M48.50XS, M48.51XA | Non-billable header Report instead: M84.40XA, M84.40XD, M84.40XG, M84.40XK, M84.40XP |
| 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 | Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (M48.5). | Pathological fracture, not elsewhere classified is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (M84.4). |
| 7th character | The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from subcategory M48.5: | The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from subcategory M84.4: |
| Includes | Collapsed vertebra NOS Compression fracture of vertebra NOS Wedging of vertebra NOS | Chronic fracture Pathological fracture NOS |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources