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M51.A1

Billable

Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, small, lumbar region

This code does not map to an HCC category in any model (V28, V24, ESRD, RxHCC).

What This Code Means

A small tear or defect in the outer fibrous ring of a spinal disc in the lower back.

Coding Tips

  • •Verify documentation specifies 'small' size to differentiate from unspecified (M51.A0) or large (M51.A2)
  • •This code indicates a contained defect with limited extension through the annulus fibrosus

Code First

Code Hierarchy

└M51Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders└M51.AOther lumbar and lumbosacral annulus fibrosus disc defects└M51.A1Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, small, lumbar region
└M51.A1Intervertebral annulus fibrosus defect, small, lumbar region

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