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G96.09 ICD-10-CM Code: Other spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43.0, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 091 — OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH MCC (MDC 01)
  • MS-DRG 092 — OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH CC (MDC 01)
  • MS-DRG 093 — OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 01)
  • MS-DRG 791 — PREMATURITY WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS (MDC 15)
  • MS-DRG 793 — FULL TERM NEONATE WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS (MDC 15)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Other spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (G96.09).

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for G96.09 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

Inclusion Terms

Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.

  • Other spinal CSF leak
  • Postoperative spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak
  • Traumatic spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Code Also

Additional codes that may be required to fully describe the encounter.

  • if applicable:
  • head injury (S00 - S09)
  • intracranial hypotension (G96.81-)

Indexed Clinical Terms (3)

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code.

  • Leak, leakage, cerebrospinal fluid, spinal, post-traumatic
  • Leak, leakage, cerebrospinal fluid, spinal, postoperative
  • Leak, leakage, cerebrospinal fluid, spinal, specified NEC

Frequently Compared Codes

The official Excludes notes on G96.09 name these codes. Each comparison page covers when the two can — or must not — be reported together.

Change history

  • FY2021 — 2020-10-01
    Added to the code set
    Other spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak
    FY2021 changes

Verify Before Coding

  • CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim.

Relationships & Classification

Potential MS-DRG Relationships (FY2026)

CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 5 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 5 MS-DRGs: DRG 091 (MDC 01), DRG 092 (MDC 01), DRG 093 (MDC 01), DRG 791 (MDC 15), DRG 793 (MDC 15).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):NVS020 — Other nervous system disorders (neither hereditary nor degenerative) (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical process (MS-DRG)

Acts as CC — raises the severity of other admissions. CMS groups these diagnoses into one MS-DRG principal-diagnosis exclusion process — a CC/MCC on this list never raises severity when the principal diagnosis is also on it.

G96.00 — Cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified, G96.01 — Cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous, G96.02 — Spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous, G96.08 — Other cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Other nervous system disorders (neither hereditary nor degenerative)).

G95.20 — Unspecified cord compression, G95.29 — Other cord compression, G95.81 — Conus medullaris syndrome, G95.89 — Other specified diseases of spinal cord, G95.9 — Disease of spinal cord, unspecified, G96.0 — Cerebrospinal fluid leak, G96.00 — Cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified, G96.01 — Cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous, G96.02 — Spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous, G96.08 — Other cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak, G96.11 — Dural tear, G96.12 — Meningeal adhesions (cerebral) (spinal), G96.19 — Other disorders of meninges, not elsewhere classified, G96.191 — Perineural cyst, G96.198 — Other disorders of meninges, not elsewhere classified, G96.8 — Other specified disorders of central nervous system, G96.810 — Intracranial hypotension, unspecified, G96.811 — Intracranial hypotension, spontaneous, G96.819 — Other intracranial hypotension, G96.89 — Other specified disorders of central nervous system, +97 more

Lab tests where this diagnosis supports Medicare coverage

Medicare's National Coverage Determinations list this diagnosis as medical justification for these lab tests.

Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) Test, Prothrombin Time Test and INR (PT/INR)

Contextual Map

Every relationship of G96.09 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Hierarchy

  • G00-G99 — Chapter 6: Diseases of the Nervous System (G00-G99) (G00-G99) [Hierarchy]

Code Also

  • S00 — Superficial injury of head [Code Also]: “head injury (S00 - S09)” · check together
  • S09 — Other and unspecified injuries of head [Code Also]: “head injury (S00 - S09)” · check together

Clinical classification (CCSR)

  • NVS020 — Other nervous system disorders (neither hereditary nor degenerative) [CCSR]

Potential MS-DRG

  • CC — Complication or Comorbidity [MS-DRG severity]: “As a secondary diagnosis this code can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier (CC).”
  • DRG 091 — OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH MCC [MS-DRG]: “OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH MCC (MDC 01)”
  • DRG 092 — OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH CC [MS-DRG]: “OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH CC (MDC 01)”
  • DRG 093 — OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITHOUT CC/MCC [MS-DRG]: “OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 01)”
  • DRG 791 — PREMATURITY WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS [MS-DRG]: “PREMATURITY WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS (MDC 15)”
  • DRG 793 — FULL TERM NEONATE WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS [MS-DRG]: “FULL TERM NEONATE WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS (MDC 15)”

MDC crossing · procedures (8892)

  • MDC 01 — Diseases and Disorders of the Nervous System [MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Nervous System — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs.”
  • MDC 15 — Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period [MDC crossing]: “Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs.”
  • 0016070 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Nasopharynx with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Nasopharynx with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 01, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016071 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Mastoid Sinus with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Mastoid Sinus with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 01, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016072 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Atrium with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Atrium with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 01, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016073 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Blood Vessel with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Blood Vessel with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 01, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016074 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Pleural Cavity with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Pleural Cavity with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 01, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • and 8887 more

Index entries

  • Leak, leakage, cerebrospinal fluid, spinal, post-traumatic[Index term]
  • Leak, leakage, cerebrospinal fluid, spinal, postoperative[Index term]
  • Leak, leakage, cerebrospinal fluid, spinal, specified NEC[Index term]

Nearest codes (19)

  • G96 — Other disorders of central nervous system [Sibling]
  • G96.0 — Cerebrospinal fluid leak [Sibling]
  • G96.00 — Cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified [Sibling]
  • G96.01 — Cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous [Sibling]
  • G96.02 — Spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous [Sibling]
  • G96.08 — Other cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak [Sibling]
  • G96.1 — Disorders of meninges, not elsewhere classified [Sibling]
  • G96.11 — Dural tear [Sibling]
  • and 11 more

Change history

  • FY2021 — Added to the code set [Change history]

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to G96.09 in its code family, with their registry titles.

  • G96.0 — Cerebrospinal fluid leak
  • G96.00 — Cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified
  • G96.01 — Cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous
  • G96.02 — Spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous
  • G96.08 — Other cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak
  • G96.1 — Disorders of meninges, not elsewhere classified
  • G96.11 — Dural tear
  • G96.12 — Meningeal adhesions (cerebral) (spinal)
  • G96.19 — Other disorders of meninges, not elsewhere classified
  • G96.191 — Perineural cyst

View all codes in the G96 family