ICD10
ICD-10 Code M48.4: Fatigue fracture of vertebra
Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 21 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 Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).
đź“‹Clinical overview
This ICD-10 code is commonly used when documentation describes fatigue fracture of a vertebra. The most accurate code depends on the affected spinal region.
When is it used?
- May be used when a clinician documents fatigue fracture of vertebra 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.
đź©şClinical context
When commonly used
- Orthopedic, spine, rehabilitation, and imaging workflows where vertebral stress or fatigue fracture is part of the documented problem list.
- Coding and utilization-review workflows where the record supports fatigue fracture of vertebra and the final code changes based on spinal region.
Common management context
- Evaluation often includes pain review, spine imaging context, activity or load history, and planning for orthopedic or spine follow-up.
- Documentation usually becomes more specific when the chart identifies the exact spinal region involved.
- Specialist context already linked on this page includes Orthopedic Specialist, Rheumatologist.
🔍Key distinctions
Important notes
- These ICD-10 codes are reserved for fatigue fracture of vertebra rather than traumatic spondylopathy or other vertebral fracture patterns.
- Spinal-region detail drives most of the code specificity inside this family.
- Documentation that describes fatigue fracture of vertebra is coded differently from traumatic spondylopathy or another vertebral fracture pattern.
Important exclusions
- pathological fracture NOS (M84.4-)
- pathological fracture of vertebra due to neoplasm (M84.58)
- pathological fracture of vertebra due to other diagnosis (M84.68)
- pathological fracture of vertebra due to osteoporosis (M80.-)
- traumatic fracture of vertebrae (S12.0-S12.3-, S22.0-, S32.0-)
Related codes to consider
M48.40Fatigue fracture of vertebra, site unspecified
Related spinal-disorder ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when the chart identifies the spinal region, fatigue-fracture versus traumatic pattern, or another vertebral context.
M48.41Fatigue fracture of vertebra, occipito-atlanto-axial region
Related spinal-disorder ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when the chart identifies the spinal region, fatigue-fracture versus traumatic pattern, or another vertebral context.
M48.42Fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical region
Related spinal-disorder ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when the chart identifies the spinal region, fatigue-fracture versus traumatic pattern, or another vertebral context.
M48.43Fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervicothoracic region
Related spinal-disorder ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when the chart identifies the spinal region, fatigue-fracture versus traumatic pattern, or another vertebral context.
Code hierarchy
chapter
13Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99)
block
M40-M54Dorsopathies
block
M45-M49Spondylopathies
category
M48Other spondylopathies
currentM48
Official coding notes
Inclusion terms
- Stress fracture of vertebra
Excludes1 (do not code together)
- pathological fracture NOS (M84.4-)
- pathological fracture of vertebra due to neoplasm (M84.58)
- pathological fracture of vertebra due to other diagnosis (M84.68)
- pathological fracture of vertebra due to osteoporosis (M80.-)
- traumatic fracture of vertebrae (S12.0-S12.3-, S22.0-, S32.0-)
7th character notes
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from subcategory M48.4:
- initial encounter for fracture
- subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- sequela of fracture
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
Orthopedic SpecialistRheumatologist
Related codes
M48.40Fatigue fracture of vertebra, site unspecifiedcodeM48.41Fatigue fracture of vertebra, occipito-atlanto-axial regioncodeM48.42Fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical regioncodeM48.43Fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervicothoracic regioncodeM48.44Fatigue fracture of vertebra, thoracic regioncodeM48.45Fatigue fracture of vertebra, thoracolumbar regioncodeM48.46Fatigue fracture of vertebra, lumbar regioncodeM48.47Fatigue fracture of vertebra, lumbosacral regioncodeM48.48Fatigue fracture of vertebra, sacral and sacrococcygeal regioncode
Sibling codes
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
M48.4
Replacement codes
M48.40 — Fatigue fracture of vertebra, site unspecifiedM48.41 — Fatigue fracture of vertebra, occipito-atlanto-axial regionM48.42 — Fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical regionM48.43 — Fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervicothoracic regionM48.44 — Fatigue fracture of vertebra, thoracic regionM48.45 — Fatigue fracture of vertebra, thoracolumbar regionM48.46 — Fatigue fracture of vertebra, lumbar regionM48.47 — Fatigue fracture of vertebra, lumbosacral regionM48.48 — Fatigue fracture of vertebra, sacral and sacrococcygeal region
Common synonyms
Fatigue fracture of vertebra
Frequently asked questions
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.