Other infective spondylopathies, lumbar region

This code signifies an infection affecting the vertebrae and intervertebral discs in the lumbar spine, excluding tuberculosis or other specified infectious agents. It represents an inflammatory process within the spinal column of the lower back caused by a bacterial, fungal, or parasitic organism.

Apply this code when documentation indicates an infectious spondylopathy localized to the lumbar region, and the specific infectious agent is not otherwise classified or specified as tuberculous. Supporting documentation should include physician notes detailing the diagnosis of an infectious spinal condition in the lumbar area, often confirmed by imaging (e.g., MRI, CT) and laboratory findings (e.g., elevated inflammatory markers, positive cultures).

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "lumbar region" to differentiate from other spinal segments.
• Do not use this code if the infectious agent is identified as tuberculosis; instead, refer to codes in category A18.0.
• Always code the underlying infectious organism (e.g., B95-B97 for bacterial agents) as an additional diagnosis, if known and documented.