Appropriate ICD-10-CM coding for retrolisthesis of C5 relative to C6

Q.

What is the appropriate ICD-10-CM for retrolisthesis of C5 relative to C6? There is nothing in ICD-10 under “retrolisthesis” and I wasn’t sure if you go to “displacement” intervertebral disc, cervical M50.222. Is it possible that there is another term to look under for retrolisthesis. Does the doctor need to change how he documents this problem? 

A.

The doctor doesn’t need to change his documentation. But it would be helpful for the coders to have access to AHA’s Coding Clinic for ICD-10. Retrolisthesis is also called retrospondylolisthesis, with the vertebrae slipping backward instead of forward. 

Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM says to report the appropriate code from M43.1 – spondylolisthesis.