M86.331
BillableChronic multifocal osteomyelitis, right radius and ulna
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 chronic bone infection affecting multiple areas of the right forearm bones (radius and ulna), characterized by persistent inflammation and bone damage.
Coding Tips
- •Verify laterality is documented as right in the medical record before assigning this code
- •Confirm the infection is multifocal (affecting multiple sites) and chronic in nature, not acute
Clinical Significance
This code represents a severe chronic bone infection specifically affecting both forearm bones of the right arm, indicating significant functional impairment and treatment complexity. The multifocal nature suggests extensive disease requiring prolonged antibiotic therapy and potential surgical intervention.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Confirmation of right-sided radius and ulna involvement
- ✓Evidence of chronicity (>6 weeks duration or recurrent episodes)
- ✓Documentation of multifocal pattern (multiple areas within bones)
- ✓Radiographic evidence of osteomyelitic changes on imaging
- ✓Clinical symptoms (pain, swelling, decreased range of motion)
- ✓Laboratory markers (elevated inflammatory markers, culture results)
- ✓Treatment response documentation (antibiotic therapy outcomes)
- ✓Provider assessment confirming chronic multifocal osteomyelitis
Commonly Confused Codes
M86.131 — Acute osteomyelitis of right radius and ulna, differs by acuityM86.432 — Chronic osteomyelitis with draining sinus, includes sinus tractM86.531 — Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis, different etiology classificationM86.332 — Same condition but left-sided, laterality differenceM86.9 — Osteomyelitis unspecified, lacks specificity for chronic multifocal type
Code Hierarchy
└M86Osteomyelitis└M86.3Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis└M86.33Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis, radius and ulna└M86.331Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis, right radius and ulna
└M86.331Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis, right radius and ulna