M02.38
BillableReiter's disease, vertebrae
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 94 — Reactive and Specified Arthropathies
0.000V24HCC 40 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease
0.307ESRDHCC 40 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease
0.000RxHCCHCC 83 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease
0.000What This Code Means
Reiter's disease affecting the spine and vertebrae, causing inflammation and joint pain in the backbone.
Coding Tips
- •Reiter's disease is a reactive arthritis triggered by infection; document the underlying infection if known
- •Verify if this is part of a syndrome presentation (urethritis, conjunctivitis, arthritis) for complete coding
Clinical Significance
Reiter's disease affecting the vertebrae represents a severe form of reactive arthritis involving the axial skeleton that can lead to spinal fusion and significant functional disability. This condition requires aggressive immunosuppressive therapy and has major implications for mobility, posture, and overall quality of life.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documented diagnosis of Reiter's disease with vertebral involvement
- ✓Evidence of spinal inflammation through imaging (MRI, CT, or X-ray)
- ✓History of precipitating bacterial infection
- ✓Assessment of spinal mobility and range of motion limitations
- ✓Laboratory evidence of inflammatory markers
- ✓Evaluation for sacroiliitis and peripheral joint involvement
- ✓Treatment with DMARDs or biologic agents targeting spinal inflammation
- ✓Functional assessment including posture and ambulation capacity
Commonly Confused Codes
M45.9 — Ankylosing spondylitis, unspecified is primary axial spondyloarthropathyM46.1 — Sacroiliitis, not elsewhere classified lacks the reactive arthritis componentM48.1 — Ankylosing hyperostosis represents different spinal conditionM54.9 — Dorsalgia, unspecified is symptomatic rather than diagnostic
Code Hierarchy
└M02Postinfective and reactive arthropathies└M02.3Reiter's disease└M02.38Reiter's disease, vertebrae
└M02.38Reiter's disease, vertebrae