M86.149
BillableOther acute osteomyelitis, unspecified hand
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 92 — Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis
0.209V24HCC 39 — Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis
0.482ESRDHCC 39 — Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis
0.000What This Code Means
A sudden bone infection in the hand bones where it is not specified whether the right or left hand is affected.
Coding Tips
- •Attempt to clarify laterality from clinical documentation or imaging before using this unspecified code
- •Hand infections require prompt treatment, so laterality should be determined for proper clinical management
Clinical Significance
Acute osteomyelitis of unspecified hand represents incomplete documentation of a serious bone infection that threatens hand function. The lack of laterality specification limits accurate risk stratification and treatment planning, warranting provider queries for complete documentation.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of hand bone infection without laterality
- ✓Evidence of acute onset bone infection
- ✓Clinical signs of osteomyelitis in hand bones
- ✓Imaging confirmation of hand bone involvement
- ✓Laboratory evidence of active infection
- ✓Provider query for laterality specification
- ✓Documentation of functional assessment
- ✓Treatment plan appropriate for hand osteomyelitis
Commonly Confused Codes
L03.119 — Cellulitis of unspecified finger (soft tissue infection)M86149 vs M86141/142 — When laterality can be determinedM86649 — Chronic osteomyelitis with draining sinus of unspecified handM86249 — Subacute osteomyelitis of unspecified handS62.90XA — Unspecified fracture of unspecified wrist and hand
Code Hierarchy
└M86Osteomyelitis└M86.1Other acute osteomyelitis└M86.14Other acute osteomyelitis, hand└M86.149Other acute osteomyelitis, unspecified hand
└M86.149Other acute osteomyelitis, unspecified hand