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M88.821 vs M88.829

M88.821 (Osteitis deformans of right upper arm) compared with M88.829 (Osteitis deformans of unspecified upper arm), from the official CMS tabular data. M88.821 and M88.829 code the same condition on opposite sides. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

M88.821
Right
Osteitis deformans of right upper arm
M88.829
Unspecified
Osteitis deformans of unspecified 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. M88.821 and M88.829 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

M88.821Osteitis deformans of right upper armM88.829Osteitis deformans of unspecified upper arm
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationM00-M99 — Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissueM00-M99 — Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
DefinitionOsteitis deformans of right upper arm is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M88.821).Osteitis deformans of unspecified upper arm is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M88.829).

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources