M87.159
BillableOsteonecrosis due to drugs, unspecified femur
HCC Category Mapping
V24HCC 39 — Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis
0.482ESRDHCC 39 — Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis
0.000RxHCCHCC 80 — Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis
0.000What This Code Means
Death of bone tissue in the thighbone caused by medication side effects when the specific side (left or right) is not documented or cannot be determined.
Coding Tips
- •This unspecified code should be used only when laterality cannot be determined; query provider for clarification when possible
- •Document imaging findings and the specific medication causing the osteonecrosis to support the diagnosis
Clinical Significance
Drug-induced osteonecrosis of unspecified femur represents medication-related bone death when laterality cannot be determined from documentation. This condition still indicates severe functional impairment and potential need for joint replacement, requiring comprehensive orthopedic evaluation regardless of side specification.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation confirming femoral involvement in osteonecrosis
- ✓Specific causative medication or drug class identification
- ✓Imaging evidence of femoral osteonecrosis
- ✓Assessment of hip joint function and mobility limitations
- ✓Rationale for why laterality cannot be determined
- ✓Drug exposure history with temporal correlation to symptoms
- ✓Treatment approach addressing functional preservation
- ✓Provider confirmation of drug-induced etiology
Commonly Confused Codes
M87.151/M87.152 — Use specific laterality when right/left is documentedM87.150 — Pelvic osteonecrosis involves different anatomical regionM87.259 — Post-traumatic unspecified femur requires injury historyM87.059 — Idiopathic femur osteonecrosis lacks drug causationS72.9 — Unspecified femur fracture is acute trauma, not chronic necrosis
Code Hierarchy
└M87Osteonecrosis└M87.1Osteonecrosis due to drugs└M87.15Osteonecrosis due to drugs, pelvis and femur└M87.159Osteonecrosis due to drugs, unspecified femur
└M87.159Osteonecrosis due to drugs, unspecified femur