Segmental and somatic dysfunction of lumbar region

This code signifies a biomechanical impairment in the lumbar spine, characterized by altered joint motion, muscle spasm, tissue texture changes, and/or tenderness. It indicates a functional disturbance within a specific segment of the lower back, rather than a structural pathology like a fracture or disc herniation.

Apply this code when documentation explicitly states "segmental dysfunction," "somatic dysfunction," or "vertebral subluxation complex" localized to the lumbar region. This is frequently seen in chiropractic, osteopathic, and physical therapy notes describing findings upon palpation and range of motion assessment.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "lumbar" to differentiate from other spinal regions.
• Do not use this code for structural diagnoses (e.g., spondylosis, disc degeneration); these require separate, more specific codes.
• This code is often a primary diagnosis for manual therapy, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), or chiropractic manipulative treatment (CMT).