Alphabetic Index FY2027

M25.3

Other instability of joint

FY2027Chapter 13: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue/M20–M25 Other joint disorders

Non-billable headerNot valid on its own. Use one of the more specific codes under it.

M25.3 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code header for other instability of joint. Report a more specific code from it instead. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. The more specific codes under it are M25.30 Other instability, unspecified joint; M25.31 Other instability, shoulder; M25.32 Other instability, elbow; M25.33 Other instability, wrist and 5 more. Its coding notes include 2 Excludes1 entries and 19 Excludes2 entries.

Excludes1

Not coded here. The listed conditions generally should not be reported together.

This code
  • instability of joint secondary to old ligament injury (M24.2-)
  • instability of joint secondary to removal of joint prosthesis (M96.8-)

Excludes2

Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.

This code
Inherited from M25 Other joint disorder, not elsewhere classified
  • abnormality of gait and mobility (R26.-)
  • acquired deformities of limb (M20-M21)
  • calcification of bursa (M71.4-)
  • calcification of shoulder (joint) (M75.3)
  • calcification of tendon (M65.2-)
  • difficulty in walking (R26.2)
  • temporomandibular joint disorder (M26.6-)
Also from chapter/block level (11 notes)
Inherited from M20–M25 Other joint disorders
Inherited from Chapter 13 Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
  • 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)

Notes

Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from Chapter 13 Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
  • Use an external cause code following the code for the musculoskeletal condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the musculoskeletal condition

More specific codes under M25.3 9