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M86.8X21 vs M86.8X22

M86.8X21 (Other osteomyelitis, right upper arm) compared with M86.8X22 (Other osteomyelitis, left upper arm), from the official CMS tabular data. M86.8X21 and M86.8X22 code the same condition on opposite sides. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

M86.8X21
Right
Other osteomyelitis, right upper arm
M86.8X22
Left
Other osteomyelitis, left upper arm

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. M86.8X21 and M86.8X22 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

M86.8X21Other osteomyelitis, right upper armM86.8X22Other osteomyelitis, left upper arm
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationM00-M99 — Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissueM00-M99 — Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
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