Skip to main content

M87.138 vs M87.139

M87.138 (Osteonecrosis due to drugs of left carpus) compared with M87.139 (Osteonecrosis due to drugs of unspecified carpus), from the official CMS tabular data. M87.138 and M87.139 code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

M87.138
Left
Osteonecrosis due to drugs of left carpus
M87.139
Unspecified
Osteonecrosis due to drugs of unspecified carpus

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. M87.138 and M87.139 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

M87.138Osteonecrosis due to drugs of left carpusM87.139Osteonecrosis due to drugs of unspecified carpus
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)
DefinitionOsteonecrosis due to drugs of left carpus is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M87.138).Osteonecrosis due to drugs of unspecified carpus is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M87.139).
Includes
avascular necrosis of bone
avascular necrosis of bone
Use additional code
code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
code to identify major osseous defect, if applicable (M89.7-)
code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
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