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M79.A12 vs M79.A19

M79.A12 (Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of left upper extremity) compared with M79.A19 (Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of unspecified upper extremity), from the official CMS tabular data. M79.A12 and M79.A19 code the same condition on opposite sides. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

M79.A12
Left
Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of left upper extremity
M79.A19
Unspecified
Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of unspecified upper extremity

Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.

These codes share a category and title and differ only in the side affected. The documentation decides which applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Source: ICD-10-CM tabular list (laterality variant derived from the code title)

Can these codes be reported together?

Same condition, opposite side. M79.A12 and M79.A19 name the same condition on opposite sides of the body.

Same category and title, differing only in which side is affected — the documentation decides which one applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Side by side

M79.A12Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of left upper extremityM79.A19Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of unspecified upper extremity
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationM00-M99 — Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissueM00-M99 — Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
DefinitionNontraumatic compartment syndrome of left upper extremity is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M79.A12).Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of unspecified upper extremity is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M79.A19).
Code first
, if applicable, associated postprocedural complication
, if applicable, associated postprocedural complication

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources