M48.45XAFatigue fracture of vertebra, thoracolumbar region, initial encounter for fracture

M48.45XA is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for fatigue fracture of vertebra, thoracolumbar region, initial encounter for fracture. It belongs to category M48 (other spondylopathies), block M45-M49 (spondylopathies) and chapter 13 (diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

The 7th character "A" means initial encounter for fracture: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for the condition.

It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 542 (Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy with MCC, relative weight 1.7211), DRG 543 (Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy with CC, relative weight 1.006) and DRG 544 (Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.7406), in MDC 08 (Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 733.95 (stress fracture of other bone).