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M71.021 ICD-10-CM Code: Abscess of bursa, right elbow

Compare with another codeCheck this code on a claim

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

Coding at a Glance

Tabular directives
3 Excludes1 · 1 use-additional code

Billable · FY2027A valid, specific ICD-10-CM code, reportable for dates of service in FY2027.

What you need to know

Source: CMS/NCHS Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes, quoted. From the CMS/NCHS tabular list for the release in force. A note the category or block publishes applies to this code too; the Instructions section marks which is which.

Use additional codeReport with this code when documented
  • code (B95.-, B96.-) to identify causative organism
Excludes1Never report with this code
  • bunion (M20.1)
  • bursitis related to use, overuse or pressure (M70.-)
  • enthesopathies (M76-M77)

Most relevant related codes MedCoder-derived

Read off the official notes above and this code’s own position in the tabular list. Which to report is a documentation question; Compare shows the two side by side.

CompareCheck ClaimView Related Codes

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v44, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 557 — TENDONITIS, MYOSITIS AND BURSITIS WITH MCC (MDC 08)
  • MS-DRG 558 — TENDONITIS, MYOSITIS AND BURSITIS WITHOUT MCC (MDC 08)

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.

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for M71.021 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2027Effective: October 1, 2026

Trace:FY2027 changesChange historyRelease, file and checksum

Notes without a marker are published on M71.021 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

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).

Source: inherited from M71

Use Additional Code

Supplementary codes the tabular list directs you to add.

  • Use additional code (B95.-, B96.-) to identify causative organism

Source: inherited from M71.0

Coder workflow for M71.021

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code M71.021

  1. Laterality is coded in this family. Confirm the side documented — right, left, or bilateral — and select the matching code (this page’s code: right). The unspecified-side code applies only when the record states no side. Laterality is assigned from the documented side; where a bilateral code exists and both sides are documented, it is used instead of two unilateral codes (Guidelines I.B.13).

    ReviewM71.022 · left, M71.029 · unspecified

    Guide: Laterality coding →

  2. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with M71.021. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

    See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

  1. Does the documentation support a condition named in M71.021’s Excludes1 note?
    Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
    No → Continue.

    ReviewM20.1, M70

  2. Is the side documented?
    Yes → Select the code for the documented side (or the bilateral code when both sides are documented and one exists).
    No → Use the unspecified-side code only when the record states no side; a query is the alternative.

    ReviewM71.022 · left, M71.029 · unspecified

Consider M71.021. Then work the Use Additional Code note, and confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement
Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).
Laterality
Right, left or bilateral as documented; unspecified only when the record states no side (Guidelines I.B.13).
The conditions the Use Additional Code note names
Reported with this code when documented; a conditional instruction (“if applicable”, “if known”) applies only when the record supports it.

Official instructions as workflow

  • Excludes1 — check before selecting M71.021(3 notes)

    Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with M71.021: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

    CompareM20.1, M70

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

  • Use Additional Code — after identifying M71.021(1 note)

    Coding workflow: Check whether the documentation supports the additional code(s) the note names, and report them with M71.021 when it does. Where the instruction is conditional (“if applicable”, “if known”), it applies only when the record documents the condition.

    ReviewB95, B96

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.13

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Documentation: Both the condition M71.021 describes and a condition named in its Excludes1 note are documented for the same encounter.

Coding question: Can both codes be reported?

Path: Review the Excludes1 note and the excluded code, and look for a provider statement on whether the two conditions are related.

Reason: Excludes1 means the two are not coded together; the exception is when the record shows the conditions are unrelated to each other (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

ReviewM20.1, M70

Documentation: The record documents the condition on one side only.

Coding question: Which code in this family applies?

Path: Select the sibling code for the documented side.

Reason: Laterality is assigned from the documented side; the unspecified-side code is for records that state no side (Guidelines I.B.13).

ReviewM71.022 · left, M71.029 · unspecified

Documentation: A condition the Use Additional Code note names is documented.

Coding question: Is a second code reported with M71.021?

Path: Review the Use Additional Code note and the code it names.

Reason: The additional code is reported when the record documents the condition; a conditional instruction applies only when its condition is met (Guidelines I.A.13).

ReviewB95, B96

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Don’t confuse M71.021 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of M71.021 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

  • M20.1— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of bunion moves the case to M20.1; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: M71.021 vs M20.1 →

  • M70— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of bursitis related to use, overuse or pressure moves the case to M70; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: M71.021 vs M70 →

  • M76— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of enthesopathies moves the case to M76; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: M71.021 vs M76 →

  • M77— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of enthesopathies moves the case to M77; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: M71.021 vs M77 →

  • M71.029— Specificity relationship (Review)

    Overlapping diagnoses in the same category.

    Overlapping codes in the same category — the documentation decides which is the more specific fit.

    What moves you there: A record that documents no more than “Abscess of bursa, unspecified elbow” takes M71.029; specificity in the record moves it back here.

    Full comparison: M71.021 vs M71.029 →

  • M71.022— Laterality relationship (Review)

    Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.

    The same condition on the other side; the documented side decides, and a bilateral code, where one exists, replaces the pair when both sides are documented.

    What moves you there: A documented left side moves the case to M71.022.

    Full comparison: M71.021 vs M71.022 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Coding context

Guidelines, coding notes, decision aids, relationships (with MS-DRG and CCSR classification), hierarchy, HCC, coverage and the context map: what a coder reaches for after the core. Each section names whether it is official source data, a MedCoder-derived relationship or MedCoder editorial.

Code Overview

Abscess of bursa, right elbow is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M71.021).

MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.

Decision Points

The directives on this code's own record, as a pre-claim checklist.

  1. Laterality is coded in this family. Confirm the documented side matches the code — the opposite-side siblings are in the relationships section. See the opposite-side sibling codes
  2. 1 Use Additional Code instruction — report the named additional code(s) when the documentation supports them. See the Use Additional Code notes
  3. 3 Excludes1 entries — codes named there are generally not reported together with this code (Guidelines I.A.12.a). See the Excludes1 notes

Checklist rows are derived from this code's own official directives; the wording of each check is MedCoder editorial. The official notes themselves are in the sections each row links to.

Verify Before Coding

  • No Medicare Code Editor or MS-DRG Definitions Manual restrictions apply to this code.

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

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder-derived relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name M71.021 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 1 Excludes2 note: M67.4 — Ganglion (via M71.-).

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2027)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2027 MS-DRG: not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity for that release.

Named in the grouper logic of 2 MS-DRGs: DRG 557 (MDC 08), DRG 558 (MDC 08).

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

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):MUS027 — Musculoskeletal abscess (default); MUS025 — Other specified connective tissue disease.

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 condition, opposite side

Same category and title, differing only in which side of the body is affected.

M71.022 — Abscess of bursa, left elbow (left)Compare M71.021 vs M71.022 →, M71.029 — Abscess of bursa, unspecified elbow (unspecified)Compare M71.021 vs M71.029 →

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical categories (Musculoskeletal abscess, Other specified connective tissue disease).

M65.062 — Abscess of tendon sheath, left lower leg, M65.069 — Abscess of tendon sheath, unspecified lower leg, M65.071 — Abscess of tendon sheath, right ankle and foot, M65.072 — Abscess of tendon sheath, left ankle and foot, M65.079 — Abscess of tendon sheath, unspecified ankle and foot, M65.08 — Abscess of tendon sheath, other site, M71.00 — Abscess of bursa, unspecified site, M71.011 — Abscess of bursa, right shoulder, M71.012 — Abscess of bursa, left shoulder, M71.019 — Abscess of bursa, unspecified shoulder, M71.022 — Abscess of bursa, left elbow, M71.029 — Abscess of bursa, unspecified elbow, M71.031 — Abscess of bursa, right wrist, M71.032 — Abscess of bursa, left wrist, M71.039 — Abscess of bursa, unspecified wrist, M71.041 — Abscess of bursa, right hand, M71.042 — Abscess of bursa, left hand, M71.049 — Abscess of bursa, unspecified hand, M71.051 — Abscess of bursa, right hip, M71.052 — Abscess of bursa, left hip, +307 more

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main term “Abscess”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

M46.28 — Osteomyelitis of vertebra, sacral and sacrococcygeal region (sacrum, nontuberculous), M65.00 — Abscess of tendon sheath, unspecified site (tendon), M65.01 — Abscess of tendon sheath, shoulder (tendon, shoulder region), M65.02 — Abscess of tendon sheath, upper arm (tendon, upper arm), M65.03 — Abscess of tendon sheath, forearm (tendon, forearm), M65.04 — Abscess of tendon sheath, hand (tendon, hand), M65.05 — Abscess of tendon sheath, thigh (tendon, thigh), M65.06 — Abscess of tendon sheath, lower leg (tendon, lower leg), M65.07 — Abscess of tendon sheath, ankle and foot (tendon, foot), M65.08 — Abscess of tendon sheath, other site (tendon, specified site NEC), M72.8 — Other fibroblastic disorders (fascia), M86.8X — Other osteomyelitis (Brodie's), N13.6 — Pyonephrosis (kidney, with calculus, with hydronephrosis), N15.1 — Renal and perinephric abscess (kidney), N20.0 — Calculus of kidney (kidney, with calculus), N28.89 — Other specified disorders of kidney and ureter (periureteral), N34.0 — Urethral abscess (urinary), N41.2 — Abscess of prostate (prostate), N45.4 — Abscess of epididymis or testis (testis), N48.21 — Abscess of corpus cavernosum and penis (penis), +150 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of M71.021 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.

Run M71.021 with this related code in Claim Check

Hierarchy

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

  • M67.4 — Ganglion[Excludes2](via M71.-): “cyst of bursa (M71.2-M71.3)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2027

Clinical classification (CCSR)

MS-DRG Grouper

MDC crossing

  • MDC 08 — Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue — 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. 18,439 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2027

Nearest codes (40)

Change history

  • FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Reference

Index terms and tables, published questions and FAQ, every source behind this page with its release and checksum, the date-of-service check and the complete change history.

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data
CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2027 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2026 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Claim edits Official source data
CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v44.0 (October 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Inpatient payment groups Official source data
CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v44 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data
CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder-derived relationship
Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears
Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder editorial explanation
Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Current data releases:ICD-10-CM FY2027 · ICD-10-PCS FY2027 · HCPCS October 2026 · MS-DRG v44 · Medicare Code Editor v44.0 · NCCI PTP Q4 2026 · MUE Q4 2026 · NCD code lists 2026-01 · LCD export September 28, 2026 · All releases and sources

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder-derived relationship · MedCoder editorial explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates · CMS coding rules

Cite this page

Reference this page in a research guide, syllabus or article. The release is included because code content changes each year.

MedCoder.ai. "M71.021 — Abscess of bursa, right elbow." ICD-10-CM FY2027. https://medcoder.ai/icd10/code/m71.021-abscess-of-bursa-right-elbow

Change history

  • FY2016 — October 1, 2015
    In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
    Abscess of bursa, right elbow

No changes since FY2016 — additions, deletions, description changes and billable-status changes are tracked through FY2027, and none are recorded for this code. Note changes are tracked from FY2027 only.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to M71.021 in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the M71 family