Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
This chapter includes disorders affecting bones, joints, muscles, cartilage, ligaments, and connective tissues. It is one of the most commonly used ICD-10 chapters because musculoskeletal complaints—especially back pain and arthritis—are among the leading causes of disability worldwide. The chapter is structured anatomically and by disease type. It includes inflammatory joint diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis), degenerative conditions (like osteoarthritis), crystal arthropathies (gout), spondylopathies (spinal disorders), soft tissue disorders (tendonitis, bursitis), osteopathies (osteoporosis, osteomalacia), and systemic connective tissue diseases (such as lupus and systemic sclerosis).
Laterality is frequently required, especially for joint conditions (right knee vs. left knee). Some codes also specify acute vs. chronic, traumatic vs. non-traumatic, and presence of complications. Musculoskeletal conditions can be localized or systemic and may significantly affect mobility and quality of life. Accurate coding supports orthopedic surgery, rheumatology management, physical therapy planning, disability assessment, and long-term pain management strategies.
Clinical & Coding Guidelines
Chapter Notes
- Use an external cause code following the code for the musculoskeletal condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the musculoskeletal condition
Excludes2 (Partial exclusion)
- arthropathic psoriasis (L40.5-)
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- compartment syndrome (traumatic) (T79.A-)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- neoplasms (C00-D49)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)