Ankylosing spondylitis of unspecified sites in spine

This code identifies ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory arthritis primarily affecting the axial skeleton, when the specific spinal site(s) involved are not documented. It signifies the presence of the disease without further anatomical specificity.

Use this code when the medical record confirms a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis but lacks detailed information regarding the specific vertebral segments (e.g., cervical, thoracic, lumbar) affected. Documentation supporting its use would include physician notes stating "ankylosing spondylitis" without further anatomical clarification.

• Avoid using this code if the documentation specifies the affected spinal region; instead, use a more specific M45 subcategory.
• Always review the entire medical record for any mention of specific spinal involvement before defaulting to this unspecified code.
• Consider querying the provider for greater specificity if the documentation is ambiguous regarding the affected site.