ICD10

ICD-10 Code A18.0: Tuberculosis of bones and joints

A18.0 is an ICD-10 diagnosis entry used to group records related to Tuberculosis of bones and joints. You may see this entry in coding references, medical records, or claims workflows when a broader diagnosis category is being reviewed before a more specific code is chosen. ICD-10 entries help standardize how diagnoses are organized for coding, reporting, analytics, and documentation. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).

Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 26 May 2026

What is this code?

ICD-10 entries help standardize how diagnoses are organized for coding, reporting, analytics, and documentation. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).

When is it used?

  • May be used when a clinician documents tuberculosis of bones and joints in a patient's medical record.
  • May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
  • This code may act more like a grouping or parent code, so a more specific child code may be used in final documentation when available.

What it does not mean

  • A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
  • A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.
  • This entry may represent a broader category rather than the most specific billable code.

Code hierarchy

chapter
1Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
block
A15-A19Tuberculosis
category
A18Tuberculosis of other organs
currentA18

Where you may see this code

You may see this entry in coding references, medical records, or claims workflows when a broader diagnosis category is being reviewed before a more specific code is chosen.

Related specialists

Infectious Disease SpecialistGeneral Physician

Mapped diagnoses and classifications

SNOMED_CT 1365812000high
Arthritis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 1162404007high
Infection of cervicothoracic region of spine caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 1162297009high
Infection of multiple sites of spine caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 1365832004high
Infection of multiple sites of spine caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 1162401004high
Infection of thoracolumbar region of spine caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 1162356000high
Infective arthritis of joint of hand caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map

Coding guidelines

Compatibility

Legacy code aligns to an official FY 2026 category. Frontend should resolve to the official category page and surface the billable child codes.
Legacy codes
A18.0
Replacement codes
A18.01 — Tuberculosis of spineA18.02 — Tuberculous arthritis of other jointsA18.03 — Tuberculosis of other bonesA18.09 — Other musculoskeletal tuberculosis

Common synonyms

Tuberculosis of bones and joints

Frequently asked questions

Code details

CodeA18.0
SystemICD10
Display nameTuberculosis of bones and joints
ChapterCertain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
BlockTuberculosis

Flags

BillableNo
Valid clinical useNo

Source

SourceICD-10
Version2026-annual
Releaseannual
Year2026

About this content

This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.