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M86.421 vs M86.429

M86.421 (Chronic osteomyelitis with draining sinus, right humerus) compared with M86.429 (Chronic osteomyelitis with draining sinus, unspecified humerus), from the official CMS tabular data. M86.421 and M86.429 code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

M86.421
Right
Chronic osteomyelitis with draining sinus, right humerus
M86.429
Unspecified
Chronic osteomyelitis with draining sinus, unspecified humerus

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. M86.421 and M86.429 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

M86.421Chronic osteomyelitis with draining sinus, right humerusM86.429Chronic osteomyelitis with draining sinus, unspecified humerus
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationM00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99)M00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99)
DefinitionChronic osteomyelitis with draining sinus, right humerus is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M86.421).Chronic osteomyelitis with draining sinus, unspecified humerus is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M86.429).
Use additional code
code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent
code to identify major osseous defect, if applicable (M89.7-)
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