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M86.521 vs M86.522

M86.521 (Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis, right humerus) compared with M86.522 (Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis, left humerus), from the official CMS tabular data. M86.521 and M86.522 code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

M86.521
Right
Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis, right humerus
M86.522
Left
Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis, left 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. M86.521 and M86.522 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

M86.521Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis, right humerusM86.522Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis, left 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)
DefinitionOther chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis, right humerus is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M86.521).Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis, left humerus is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M86.522).
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