M51.15 is the authoritative medical code for Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, thoracolumbar region. This classification is used in medical billing and clinical recording to specify the clinical criteria for intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, thoracolumbar region (ICD-10-CM M51.15), ensuring healthcare documentation aligns with 2026 federal coding standards.
Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.
Official Registry Overview & Definition
Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, thoracolumbar region is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code M51.15. Excludes1 (not coded here): lumbar radiculitis NOS M54.16; sciatica NOS M54.3; current injury - see injury of spine by body region; discitis NOS M46.4-. Excludes2 (not included here): cervical and cervicothoracic disc disorders M50.-; sacral and sacrococcygeal disorders M53.3.
Official Tabular Instructional Notes
Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for M51.15 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.
Excludes1 — Not Coded Here
Conditions that can never be reported with this code; the two are mutually exclusive.
- lumbar radiculitis NOS M54.16
- sciatica NOS M54.3
- current injury - see injury of spine by body region
- discitis NOS M46.4-
Excludes2 — Not Included Here
Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.
- cervical and cervicothoracic disc disorders M50.-
- sacral and sacrococcygeal disorders M53.3
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
What can't be coded together with M51.15?
Per official ICD-10-CM Excludes1 instructions, M51.15 must not be reported together with: lumbar radiculitis NOS (M54.16); sciatica NOS (M54.3); current injury - see injury of spine by body region; discitis NOS (M46.4-).
Can M51.15 be reported alongside related conditions?
Per official ICD-10-CM Excludes2 instructions, M51.15 and the following are not considered part of each other and may both be reported when both conditions are present: cervical and cervicothoracic disc disorders (M50.-); sacral and sacrococcygeal disorders (M53.3).
Nearest Codes in This Family
Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to M51.15 in its code family, with their registry titles.
- M51 — Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders
- M51.0 — Thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy
- M51.04 — Intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy, thoracic region
- M51.05 — Intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy, thoracolumbar region
- M51.06 — Intervertebral disc disorders with myelopathy, lumbar region
- M51.1 — Thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy
- M51.14 — Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, thoracic region
- M51.16 — Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, lumbar region
- M51.17 — Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, lumbosacral region
- M51.2 — Other thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbosacral intervertebral disc displacement
View all 40 codes in the M51 family
Indexed Clinical Terms (4)
Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code.
- Degeneration, degenerative, intervertebral disc, thoracolumbar region, with, neuritis, radiculitis, radiculopathy
- Disease, diseased, intervertebral disc, thoracolumbar (with), neuritis, radiculitis or radiculopathy
- Disorder (of), disc (intervertebral), with, radiculopathy, thoracolumbar region
- Displacement, displaced, intervertebral disc NEC, thoracolumbar region, with, neuritis, radiculitis, radiculopathy