Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: What are the correct diagnosis codes for lumbar spondylosis with radiculopathy?

Kansas Subscriber

Answer: Begin with 721.3 (Lumbosacral spondylosis without myelopathy) or 721.42 (Thoracic or lumbar spondylosis with myelopathy; lumbar region) for the spondylosis, depending on whether you have documentation of myelopathy.

Radiculopathy is not a specific condition; rather, it describes a problem in which one or more nerves are affected and do not work properly. ICD-9 includes 724.4 (Thoracic or lumbosacral neuritis or radiculitis, unspecified), but don't automatically report it. Coding notes state that the 724 family excludes conditions due to  spondylosis (721.0-721.9). If the radiculopathy in yourcase is due to the spondylosis, you should not separately code it.