MCMedicalCodingSoftware
M48.42

M48.42: Fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical region

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

M48.42 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical region. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below. This code also requires a 7th character before it is complete.

This code requires a 7th character

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from subcategory M48.4:

A
initial encounter for fracture
D
subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
G
subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
S
sequela of fracture

Excludes1 inherited from the categories above M48.42

A category’s note binds every code beneath it.

Written on M48.4: Fatigue fracture of vertebra

  • pathological fracture NOS (M84.4-)
  • pathological fracture of vertebra due to neoplasm (M84.58)
  • pathological fracture of vertebra due to other diagnosis (M84.68)
  • pathological fracture of vertebra due to osteoporosis (M80.-)
  • traumatic fracture of vertebrae (S12.0-S12.3-, S22.0-, S32.0-)

Other codes that can never be billed with M48.42

Their own Excludes1 notes name this code, so the conflict is not listed above.

  • G55Nerve root and plexus compressions in diseases classified elsewhere

Risk adjustment

No CMS-HCC V28 category: this code does not change a RAF score.

Alphabetic index entries that lead here

  • Fracture, traumatic›fatigue›vertebra›cervical region

Code history

Unchanged in every release from FY2024 to FY2027.

Code to one of these instead M48.42

4 child codes. Green means billable.

Other codes under M48.4

ICD-10-CMFY2027· effective October 1, 2026

Loaded directly from the CMS/NCHS ICD-10-CM public-domain release: see data sources and our editorial policy. If this page disagrees with the CMS tabular list, this page is wrong. Reference information for professional coders; not medical or billing advice.