2025 ICD-10-CM code M48.4
Fatigue fracture of vertebra.Stress fracture of vertebra.
Use additional characters to specify the site of the fracture and whether it's an initial encounter or subsequent encounter for fracture.
Medical necessity for treatment is established by documenting the presence of a fatigue fracture causing pain or functional impairment. The chosen treatment approach should be justified based on the severity and location of the fracture, patient comorbidities, and treatment goals.
Clinicians diagnose fatigue fractures through patient history, physical examination, and imaging studies like MRI, CT, and DXA scans. Treatment may involve physical therapy, rest, bracing, pain management with NSAIDs, and potentially surgery.
In simple words: A fatigue fracture in your spine is like a tiny crack in one of the bones that make up your backbone.It happens because of repeated stress or strain, not from a single injury like a fall. It’s also called a stress fracture.
A fatigue fracture of the vertebra is a break in the bony structure of the spine caused by repetitive stress or strain, rather than a single traumatic event.It is also known as a stress fracture of the vertebra.
Example 1: A 65-year-old female with osteoporosis presents with back pain after weeks of lifting heavy boxes. Imaging reveals a fatigue fracture in her lumbar spine., A young athlete experiences persistent back pain after intensive training.A bone scan confirms a fatigue fracture in a thoracic vertebra., An elderly patient with a history of falls complains of new onset back pain.A CT scan shows a fatigue fracture in a cervical vertebra.
Documentation should include details of the patient's symptoms, history of trauma or repetitive stress, physical examination findings, and results of imaging studies confirming the diagnosis.
- Specialties:Orthopedic surgery, physiatry, pain management, primary care
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, On Campus-Outpatient Hospital, Off Campus-Outpatient Hospital, Physician's Office, Independent Clinic