M92.9

M92.9 is the catch-all code for juvenile osteochondrosis when the affected site or specific condition is not documented. It covers juvenile apophysitis NOS, juvenile epiphysitis NOS, juvenile osteochondritis NOS, and juvenile osteochondrosis NOS.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 5 sources ↓

Status: Billable
Chapter: 13
Related CPT: 10
Region: General

Drawn from CDCICD10DataAAPCUnboundmedicine

Documentation tips

What should appear in the chart to support M92.9.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 5 cited references ↓

Specify the affected bone or joint by name in the clinical note — even a generic site (e.g., 'knee,' 'ankle') unlocks a more specific M92 subcode and reduces audit exposure.
Record the patient's age at presentation; 'juvenile' osteochondrosis is a growth-related diagnosis and age supports medical necessity for imaging and orthopedic management.
Document imaging findings that confirm osteochondrosis (e.g., fragmentation, sclerosis, or irregularity of the ossification center) to substantiate the diagnosis over nonspecific musculoskeletal pain codes.
If a named syndrome (e.g., Osgood-Schlatter, Sever disease, Freiberg infraction) is clinically diagnosed, document it explicitly — these map to more specific codes outside M92.9.
Note which side is affected whenever applicable; even if the specific subcode is 'unspecified site,' laterality documentation keeps the record accurate for future encounters.

Related CPT procedures

Procedure codes commonly billed with M92.9. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.

Source · CMS LCDs · AAOS specialty guidance · claims-pattern analysis

73000 $33.40

Radiologic examination of the clavicle (collarbone), complete — minimum two views required to satisfy 'complete' standard.

73060 $32.06

Radiologic examination of the humerus (upper arm bone), requiring a minimum of 2 views.

73100 $34.40

Radiologic examination of the wrist with a minimum of two views.

73562 $42.42

Three-view radiographic examination of the knee joint, capturing anteroposterior, lateral, and a third angle such as a sunrise or oblique view.

73564 $49.43

Radiologic examination of the knee consisting of four or more views, including oblique and tunnel projections, for a complete diagnostic workup.

73610 $37.07

Radiologic examination of the ankle joint requiring a minimum of three views, used to evaluate bone structure, alignment, and soft-tissue abnormalities.

73620 $28.72

Radiologic examination of the foot, two views — used to evaluate bone and joint abnormalities including fractures, arthritis, and structural deformities.

77080 $39.41

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurement of bone mineral density at axial sites such as the hips, pelvis, or lumbar spine.

27369 $181.70

Injection of contrast material into the knee joint in preparation for contrast knee arthrography, contrast-enhanced CT arthrography, or contrast-enhanced MRI arthrography.

29870 $602.89

Diagnostic arthroscopy of the knee, with or without synovial biopsy — a separate procedure designation meaning it bundles into any same-session surgical knee arthroscopy.

Common coding pitfalls

The recurring mistakes coders make with M92.9 and adjacent codes.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CDC ICD-10-CM tabular guidance, AAOS coding references, and cited references ↓

Defaulting to M92.9 when the site is actually documented: if the note says 'juvenile osteochondrosis of the patella,' use M92.4x — not M92.9.
Confusing M92.9 with M93 osteochondropathy codes: named conditions like Osgood-Schlatter (M92.52x) or Scheuermann disease (M42.0x) have their own codes and should never be collapsed into M92.9.
Applying M92.9 to adult patients: 'juvenile' is a diagnostic qualifier, not just a descriptor — using this code for a skeletally mature adult without documented juvenile-onset history is incorrect.
Skipping site-specific unspecified alternatives: M92.30 (other juvenile osteochondrosis, upper limb, unspecified) is more specific than M92.9 when the limb region is known but the exact bone is not.
Using M92.9 as a working-diagnosis placeholder when imaging or clinical workup has already identified the site — the final coded diagnosis should reflect the documented clinical findings, not the pre-workup uncertainty.

Clinical context

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 5 cited references ↓

Use M92.9 only when the clinical documentation identifies a juvenile osteochondrosis but fails to specify the anatomical site or named condition. The M92 category contains highly specific site-coded alternatives — M92.0 (humerus), M92.1 (radius/ulna), M92.2 (hand), M92.3 (other upper limb), M92.4 (patella), M92.5 (tibia/fibula), M92.6 (tarsus), M92.7 (metatarsus), and M92.8 (other specified) — all of which take precedence over M92.9 whenever the site is documented.

M92.9 applies to juvenile patients presenting with growth-related bone changes at an unspecified location, including scenarios where the clinician documents 'juvenile osteochondritis' or 'juvenile apophysitis' without naming the joint or bone. This code does not carry laterality distinctions because the site is by definition unspecified. If laterality is documented but the specific named condition is not, query the provider before defaulting to M92.9 — a site-specific code with unspecified laterality (e.g., M92.30 for unspecified other upper limb) is more precise.

This code sits within Chapter 13 (M00–M99), Osteopathies and Chondropathies subsection. No 7th-character extension applies. Do not confuse M92.9 with osteochondropathies in the M93 category (e.g., Osgood-Schlatter, Scheuermann disease, Panner disease), which have their own distinct codes and should be used when those named conditions are diagnosed.

Inclusion & exclusion notes

Per the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List.

Source · CDC ICD-10-CM Official Tabular List · 2026

Includes

Juvenile apophysitis NOS
Juvenile epiphysitis NOS
Juvenile osteochondritis NOS
Juvenile osteochondrosis NOS

Sibling codes

Other billable codes under M92 (laterality / anatomic variants).

M92.8

Other specified juvenile osteochondrosis

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 5 cited references ↓

01When is M92.9 the correct code versus a more specific M92 subcode?

Use M92.9 only when the documentation identifies juvenile osteochondrosis but provides no anatomical site. If the note names any bone, joint, or limb region, a site-specific M92 subcode applies instead.

02Does M92.9 require a 7th-character extension?

No. M-codes in the musculoskeletal chapter do not use 7th-character extensions. M92.9 is a complete, billable 4-character code.

03Can M92.9 be used for Osgood-Schlatter disease?

No. Osgood-Schlatter disease maps to M92.52x (juvenile osteochondrosis of tibial tubercle), which carries its own laterality options. Using M92.9 for a documented Osgood-Schlatter diagnosis is a specificity error.

04Is M92.9 appropriate for adults who had juvenile osteochondrosis as a child?

Not for the active diagnosis. Residual or late-effect conditions in skeletally mature patients should be coded to the appropriate osteochondropathy or sequela code rather than the juvenile-specific M92.9.

05What CPT procedures are commonly paired with M92.9?

Diagnostic imaging (plain X-ray of the affected region), MRI, or bone density studies are typical. Arthroscopic or open procedures would require the site to be specified, making a more precise M92 subcode appropriate before procedure coding.

06Does M92.9 have laterality?

No. M92.9 carries no laterality distinction because the site is unspecified. If laterality is documented, the provider has identified at minimum a limb, which should direct you to a site-specific subcode rather than M92.9.

07How does M92.9 differ from codes in category M93?

M93 covers other osteochondropathies including slipped capital femoral epiphysis, Kienbock disease, and osteochondritis dissecans. M92.9 is reserved for unspecified juvenile osteochondrosis within the M92 category. Named conditions with established codes in M93 should never be coded to M92.9.

Sources & references

Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.

Mira Scribe

Mira AI Scribe captures the patient's age, the anatomical region of concern, any named clinical syndrome, imaging findings (fragmentation, sclerosis, epiphyseal irregularity), and whether laterality was stated. Recording these details at encounter time allows the coder to select the most specific M92 subcode and avoids landing on the unspecified M92.9 — which can trigger payer queries and undermine clinical specificity on longitudinal records.

See how Mira captures M92.9 documentation