Rheumatoid bursitis, vertebrae

This code signifies inflammation of the bursae located in the vertebral column, specifically caused by rheumatoid arthritis. It represents a localized manifestation of rheumatoid disease affecting the spinal region.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates bursitis of the vertebrae directly attributed to rheumatoid arthritis. This diagnosis is typically supported by imaging studies showing vertebral bursal inflammation and a confirmed diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly links the bursitis to rheumatoid arthritis; otherwise, a non-rheumatoid bursitis code may be more appropriate.
• Always sequence a code for the underlying rheumatoid arthritis (e.g., M05.- or M06.0-) as the primary diagnosis, with this code as a secondary diagnosis.
• Verify the specific vertebral region if further specificity is available in the documentation, as other codes exist for different sites of rheumatoid bursitis.