Lumbar Disc Herniation and Lumbar Radiculopathy First understand that ICD-10 uses “displacement” to describe “herniation”. In this case, M51.26 Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbar region is the most specific. Jun 9, 2017
If you follow the index, it leads to just the one code for all of it, M51.16. Unfortunately, ICD-10 does not use the term "Herniation" for intervertebral disc disorders. It uses "Displacement" instead.
Dislocation of oth prt lumbar spine and pelvis, init encntr; Closed dislocation l6/s1; Lumbosacral vertebral dislocation, l5/s1 level; Lumbosacral vertebral subluxation, l5/s1 level; Subluxation l5/s1. ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S33.39XA. Dislocation of other parts of lumbar spine and pelvis, initial encounter.
PROCEDURE: L5-L4 hemilaminectomy, foraminectomy on the right side. PROCEDURE IN DETAIL: An incision was made on back at appropriate level. Knife dissection was taken down through the sub tissue where the fascia lie. The fascia on the right side of the spine was stripped.
Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbar region M51. 26 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM M51. 26 became effective on October 1, 2021.
Other intervertebral disc displacement, thoracolumbar region The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM M51. 25 became effective on October 1, 2021.
ICD-10-CM Code for Intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy, lumbar region M51. 16.
A herniated disc at lumbar segment 5 and sacral segment 1 (L5-S1) usually causes S1 nerve impingement. In addition to sciatica, this type of herniated disc can lead to weakness when standing on the toes. Numbness and pain can radiate down into the sole of the foot and the outside of the foot.
"A bulging disc is like letting air out of a car tire. The disc sags and looks like it is bulging outward. With a herniated disc, the outer covering of the disc has a hole or tear. This causes the nucleus pulposus (jelly-like center of the disc) to leak into the spinal canal."
5 – Low Back Pain. ICD-Code M54. 5 is a billable ICD-10 code used for healthcare diagnosis reimbursement of chronic low back pain.
36 Other intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region.
061 Spinal stenosis, lumbar region without neurogenic claudication.
M51. 26 Other intervertebral disc displacement, lumbar region - ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codes.
The L5-S1 spinal motion segment, also called the lumbosacral joint, is the transition region between the lumbar spine and sacral spine in the lower back. In this region, the curvature of the spine changes from lumbar lordosis (forward curve) to sacral kyphosis (backward curve).
The L4-L5 disc in the low back is between the L4 vertebrae and L5 vertebrae which make up the L4-L5 spinal segment. The L5-S1 disc at the bottom of the spine lies between the L5 vertebra and the first bony segment at the top of the sacrum, which is sacral segment 1 (or S1).
L5-S1 is the exact spot where the lumbar spine ends and the sacral spine begins. The lumbosacral joint is the joint that connects these bones. L5-S1 is composed of the last bone in the low back, called L5, and the triangle-shaped bone beneath, known as the sacrum.
Though it is not specifically mentioned, “thoracolumbar” likely only includes T12-L1, and “lumbosacral” probably only refers to the L5-S1 interspace. There is a strange rule for cervical disc disorders indicating that you should code to the most superior level of the disorder.
It is already included in the code. Likewise, don’t code sciatica (M54.3-) if you code for lumbar disc with radiculopathy. It would be redundant. On a side note, lumbar radiculopathy (M54.16) might be used if pain is not yet known to be due a disc, but it radiates from the lumbar spine.