M42.1 is an ICD-10 diagnosis entry used to group records related to Adult osteochondrosis of spine. 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 Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).
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 Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).
When is it used?
May be used when a clinician documents adult osteochondrosis of spine 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
13Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99)
block
M40-M54Dorsopathies
block
M40-M43Deforming dorsopathies
category
M42Spinal osteochondrosis
currentM42
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.
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
M42.1
Replacement codes
M42.10 — Adult osteochondrosis of spine, site unspecifiedM42.11 — Adult osteochondrosis of spine, occipito-atlanto-axial regionM42.12 — Adult osteochondrosis of spine, cervical regionM42.13 — Adult osteochondrosis of spine, cervicothoracic regionM42.14 — Adult osteochondrosis of spine, thoracic regionM42.15 — Adult osteochondrosis of spine, thoracolumbar regionM42.16 — Adult osteochondrosis of spine, lumbar regionM42.17 — Adult osteochondrosis of spine, lumbosacral regionM42.18 — Adult osteochondrosis of spine, sacral and sacrococcygeal regionM42.19 — Adult osteochondrosis of spine, multiple sites in spine
Common synonyms
Adult osteochondrosis of spine
Frequently asked questions
Code details
CodeM42.1
SystemICD10
Display nameAdult osteochondrosis of spine
ChapterDiseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99)
BlockDeforming dorsopathies
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.
