Skip to main content

M87.161 vs M87.163

M87.161 (Osteonecrosis due to drugs, right tibia) compared with M87.163 (Osteonecrosis due to drugs, unspecified tibia), from the official CMS tabular data. M87.161 and M87.163 code the same condition on opposite sides. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

M87.161
Right
Osteonecrosis due to drugs, right tibia
M87.163
Unspecified
Osteonecrosis due to drugs, unspecified tibia

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. M87.161 and M87.163 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

M87.161Osteonecrosis due to drugs, right tibiaM87.163Osteonecrosis due to drugs, unspecified tibia
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationM00-M99 — Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissueM00-M99 — Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
DefinitionOsteonecrosis due to drugs, right tibia is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M87.161).Osteonecrosis due to drugs, unspecified tibia is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M87.163).
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