Icd 10 code for cervical disc herniation c5 c6 with radiculopathy

Marty Kotlar, DC, CPCO, CBCS

Question:

Dr. Kotlar, “I want to report a radiculopathy ICD-10 code. My patient has neck pain with radiating pain and tingling into the right arm. Do I need to order an MRI? What is the best radiculopathy code to use?”

Answer:

Radiculopathy is caused by compression or irritation of a nerve as it exits the spinal column. Common symptoms include pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs or arms. Most patients with radiculopathy respond well to chiropractic care along with other conservative treatment. Radiculopathy can occur in any part of the spine, but most common is lumbar and cervical. Causes include disc herniation, disc degeneration, bone spurs, osteoarthritis, thickening of surrounding ligaments.

The diagnosis of radiculopathy begins with a thorough history and examination. In order for your services to be considered reasonable and justifiable, health plans, state scope of practice laws and standard practice acts require that your diagnoses have validity, are compatible with your procedure codes and are substantiated in your documentation.

The clinical rationale for choosing a diagnosis must be in writing, be part of your plan of care and entered in the patient chart notes. MRI, EMG, NCV and other diagnostic tests may be indicated. Radiculitis refers to “inflammation” of the spinal nerve root. Radiculopathy is a type of neuropathy, radiating pain, where a nerve or nerves do not function properly. The pain source is at the root of the nerve where it connects to the spine. Myelopathy describes a neurologic deficit that affects the spinal cord causing spinal cord compression.

Make sure your examination can justify the clinical rationale for choosing the correct diagnosis. Example: M54.12 is cervical radiculopathy. Your exam findings should include the following:

Subjective: Neck pain, radiating pain into upper extremity, numbness, tingling.

Ortho: Jackson compression, valsalva, foraminal compression, spurling, shoulder depression, shoulder abduction, decreased ROM.

Neuro: Diminished reflexes, dermatome changes, myotomal weakness, positive nerve stretch tests.

Chiro: Limited range of motion with pain, palpatory tenderness, subluxation, segmental dysfunction, fixation, hypomobility, hypermobility.

Imaging: MRI, x-rays, CT.

Below are common radiculopathy ICD-10 codes:

Disc Disorder with Radiculopathy:

M50.11: Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, high cervical, C2-3, C3-4

M50.121: Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, C4-5

M50.122: Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, C5-6

M50.123: Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, C6-7

M50.13: Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, C7-T1

M51.14: Intervertebral disc disorder with radiculopathy, thoracic

M51.16: Intervertebral disc disorder with radiculopathy, lumbar

Radiculopathy Codes:

M54.12: Radiculopathy, cervical

M54.14: Radiculopathy, thoracic

M54.16: Radiculopathy, lumbar

M54.17: Radiculopathy, lumbosacral

Sciatica:

M54.31: Sciatica, right side

M54.32: Sciatica, left side

M54.41: Low back pain with sciatica, right side

M54.42: Low back pain with sciatica, left side

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Marty Kotlar, DC, CPCO, CBCS is the President of Target Coding.  Dr. Kotlar is Certified in CPT Coding, Certified in Healthcare Compliance and has been helping chiropractors nationwide with HIPAA, Medicare compliance, documentation, and compliant cash plans for over 10 years.  Target Coding can be reached at 1-800-270-7044, website – www.TargetCoding.com, email – .

Displacement of cervical intervertebral disc without myelopathy

• Short description: Cervical disc displacmnt.
• ICD-9-CM 722.0 is a billable medical code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis on a reimbursement claim, however, 722.0 should only be used for claims with a date of service on or before September 30, 2015. For claims with a date of service on or after October 1, 2015, use an equivalent ICD-10-CM code (or codes).
• You are viewing the 2012 version of ICD-9-CM 722.0.
• More recent version(s) of ICD-9-CM 722.0: 2013 2014 2015.

Convert to ICD-10-CM: 722.0 converts approximately to:

• 2015/16 ICD-10-CM M50.20 Other cervical disc displacement, unspecified cervical region

Approximate Synonyms

• Brachial neuritis AND/OR radiculitis due to displacement of cervical intervertebral disc
• Cervical (neck) herniated disc with brachial neuritis
• Cervical disc herniation
• Cervical disc herniation w brachial radiculitis
• Cervical disc herniation w radiculopathy
• Cervical disc herniation with brachial radiculitis
• Cervical disc herniation with radiculopathy
• Cervical disc prolapse with radiculopathy
• Displacement cervical (neck) intervertebral disc
• Displacement of cervical intervertebral disc WO myelopathy
• Herniation cervical (neck) intervertebral disc
• Herniation of cervical (neck) intervertebral disc
• Herniation of cervical disc
• Herniation of cervical disc w brachial radiculitis
• Herniation of cervical disc w radiculopathy
• Herniation of cervical disc wo myelopathy
• Herniation of cervical disc wo radiculopathy
• Herniation of cervical intervertebral disc
• Herniation of cervical intervertebral disc W radiculopathy
• Prolapse of cervical intervertebral disc without radiculopathy
• Prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc

Applies To

• Neuritis (brachial) or radiculitis due to displacement or rupture of cervical intervertebral disc
• Any condition classifiable to 722.2
  
  of the cervical or cervicothoracic intervertebral disc

ICD-9-CM Volume 2 Index entries containing back-references to 722.0:

What is the ICD

What is diagnosis code M50 122?

Is cervical radiculopathy same as herniated disc?

What is cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy?