M51 vs S33
M51 (Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders) compared with S33 (Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of lumbar spine and pelvis), 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. S33 carries an Excludes1 note covering M51: “nontraumatic rupture or displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc NOS (M51.-)”
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
| M51Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders | S33Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of lumbar spine and pelvis | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Non-billable header Report instead: S33.0XXA, S33.0XXD, S33.0XXS, S33.100A, S33.100D |
| Classification | M00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99) | S00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88) |
| Definition | Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (M51). | Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of lumbar spine and pelvis is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S33). |
| 7th character | — | The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S33 |
| Includes | — | avulsion of joint or ligament of lumbar spine and pelvis laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament of lumbar spine and pelvis sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament of lumbar spine and pelvis traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament of lumbar spine and pelvis |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources