Osseous stenosis of neural canal of lower extremity

This code describes a narrowing of the bony spinal canal or neural foramina specifically affecting the lower extremity nerve roots. This compression can lead to neurological symptoms such as radiculopathy, weakness, numbness, or pain radiating into the leg or foot. It indicates that the stenosis is due to an osseous (bony) cause, rather than soft tissue involvement.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states osseous stenosis of the neural canal impacting the lower extremity. This typically arises from conditions like degenerative disc disease with osteophyte formation, spondylosis, or facet joint hypertrophy. Supporting documentation should specify the bony nature of the stenosis and its neurological manifestation in the lower limb.

• Differentiate between osseous and soft tissue stenosis; this code is only for bony narrowing.
• Ensure the documentation clearly links the stenosis to lower extremity symptoms, not just general spinal stenosis.
• Consider sequencing with codes for underlying conditions such as spondylosis (M47.-) or disc degeneration (M51.-) if applicable.