M48.81 ICD-10-CA code: Other specified spondylopathies, occipito-atlanto-axial region

M48.81 is the ICD-10-CA code for “Other specified spondylopathies, occipito-atlanto-axial region” in CIHI’s FY 2026–2027 release, in effect from Apr 1, 2026.

Official description

M48.81

Other specified spondylopathies, occipito-atlanto-axial region

Short description: Oth spec spondylopathies ocptatlntaxl

ICD-10-CA · Canada · Also written M4881

Notes for M48.81

As CIHI prints them, with any note M48.81 takes from the headings above it.

Includes

Ossification of posterior longitudinal ligamentFrom M48.8 Other specified spondylopathies

Excludes

Conditions classified elsewhere.

Certain:• conditions originating in the perinatal period (P00-P96)• disorders of the temporomandibular joint (K07.6)• infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)compartment syndrome (T79.6)complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O99)congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E90)injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T98)neoplasms (C00-D48)symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)From Chapter 13: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99)

Note

The following fifth characters represent the following sites of involvement:0 Multiple sites1 Shoulder region: clavical , scapula — joint acromioclavicular, glenohumeral, sternoclavicular2 Upper arm: humerus — elbow joint,3 Forearm: radius , ulna — wrist joint,4 Hand: carpus, fingers, metacarpus — joints between these bones,5 Pelvic region and thigh: buttock , femur , pelvis — joint hip , sacroiliac6 Lower leg: fibula , tibia — knee joint7 Ankle and foot: metatarsus, tarsus, toes — other joints in foot8 Other:head neck ribs skull trunk vertebral column9 Site unspecifiedFrom Chapter 13: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99)

Where M48.81 sits

1ChapterChapter 13: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99)
2Block M40-M54Dorsopathies
3Block M45-M49Spondylopathies
4Category M48Other spondylopathies
5Subcategory M48.8Other specified spondylopathies
6Valid code M48.81Other specified spondylopathies, occipito-atlanto-axial region

Source and release

Data release: ICD-10-CA · FY 2026–2027
Effective date: Apr 1, 2026
Publisher: CIHI

This page is built from the ICD-10-CA catalog that Vero Codes reads when it suggests codes: Canadian Institute for Health Information’s FY 2026–2027 release, imported from the publisher’s file and checked against it. The description, notes and structured data come from the same record.

See M48.81 in the CIHI source

Frequently asked questions

What does ICD-10-CA code M48.81 mean?

M48.81 is the ICD-10-CA code for “Other specified spondylopathies, occipito-atlanto-axial region” in CIHI’s ICD-10-CA FY 2026–2027 release.

Where is M48.81 in ICD-10-CA?

M48.81 sits under M48.8 Other specified spondylopathies, within M48 Other spondylopathies, within M45-M49 Spondylopathies, within M40-M54 Dorsopathies, within Chapter 13: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).

What coding notes apply to M48.81?

ICD-10-CA lists Includes, Note, Excludes notes for M48.81, including those from the headings it sits under. They are listed on this page with where each one comes from.

Which ICD-10-CA release does this page use?

It uses CIHI’s FY 2026–2027 release, in effect from Apr 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027. It is a reference: confirm the code against the current list and the payer’s rules before you submit it.

View M48.8