Idiopathic lateral spinal curvature localized to the lumbar region, diagnosed in a child from birth through 3 years of age with no identified underlying congenital or structural cause.
Verified May 8, 2026 · 5 sources ↓
- Status
- Billable
- Chapter
- 13
- Related CPT
- 10
- Region
- Spine
Documentation tips
What should appear in the chart to support M41.06.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 5 cited references ↓
- Record the patient's date of birth and the date scoliosis was first identified to confirm the infantile age window (birth through 3 years).
- Specify the end vertebrae used to measure the Cobb angle so the curve location maps unambiguously to the lumbar region rather than thoracolumbar (M41.05) or lumbosacral (M41.07).
- State the Cobb angle measurement explicitly in the note; payers and auditors increasingly require quantitative curve severity to support imaging orders and treatment plans.
- Confirm and document absence of congenital anomalies (e.g., hemivertebrae, bony malformation) that would redirect coding to Q76.3 or Q67.5 under the Excludes1 rule.
- If multiple curves are present, assign a separate code for each distinct regional curve; do not collapse a thoracolumbar and a lumbar curve into a single code.
Related CPT procedures
Procedure codes commonly billed with M41.06. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.
Source · CMS LCDs · AAOS specialty guidance · claims-pattern analysis
Common coding pitfalls
The recurring mistakes coders make with M41.06 and adjacent codes.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CDC ICD-10-CM tabular guidance, AAOS coding references, and cited references ↓
- Using M41.06 for a child aged 3–9 — that age range falls under juvenile idiopathic scoliosis (M41.116 for lumbar region), not infantile; the age cutoff is strictly birth through 3 years.
- Mapping a thoracolumbar curve (e.g., apex at T12–L1) to M41.06 instead of M41.05; the lumbar code requires that the measured curve resides within the lumbar spine proper.
- Applying M41.06 when a congenital bony malformation is documented — the Excludes1 note at M41 prohibits this combination; use Q76.3 instead.
- Defaulting to M41.00 (site unspecified) when X-ray or clinical findings clearly localize the curve to the lumbar region; site-specific codes are required when location is documented.
Clinical context
Source · Editorial summary grounded in 5 cited references ↓
M41.06 applies when a child aged 0–3 presents with idiopathic scoliosis whose apex and measured curve segment fall within the lumbar region. The Cobb angle is measured between lumbar end vertebrae; a curve spanning thoracolumbar levels (e.g., T12–L3) maps to M41.05 (thoracolumbar), not M41.06. If the curve is purely lumbar (e.g., L1–L4), M41.06 is correct.
Infantile idiopathic scoliosis is more common in males than females and may resolve spontaneously, but curves that persist carry a high risk of severe progression. Because the classification depends on age at diagnosis—not age at current visit—document the date of initial detection in the chart. If the patient has aged past 3 and the curve was first identified before age 3, the infantile code remains appropriate as long as the record supports it.
Excludes1 notes at the M41 parent level bar this code when scoliosis results from congenital bony malformation (Q76.3), congenital scoliosis NOS (Q67.5), postprocedural scoliosis (M96.89), or postradiation scoliosis (M96.5). If any of those etiologies are present, the infantile idiopathic code is incorrect regardless of lumbar location.
Sibling codes
Other billable codes under M41.0 (laterality / anatomic variants).
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 5 cited references ↓
01What age range defines infantile idiopathic scoliosis for coding purposes?
02Can M41.06 be used if the child is now 5 but the scoliosis was first documented at age 2?
03How do I distinguish a lumbar curve (M41.06) from a thoracolumbar curve (M41.05) or lumbosacral curve (M41.07)?
04Does M41.06 include kyphoscoliosis?
05What codes are excluded from use with M41.06?
06Should I code multiple curves separately or pick a single code?
07Is a Cobb angle threshold required to bill M41.06?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.
- 01CDC ICD-10-CM Tabular List 2026 (effective Oct 1, 2025)
- 02icd10data.comhttps://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes/M00-M99/M40-M43/M41-/M41.06
- 03aapc.comhttps://www.aapc.com/codes/icd-10-codes/M41.06
- 04clear-institute.orghttps://clear-institute.org/blog/icd-10-coding-for-scoliosis/
- 05theamericanchiropractor.comhttps://theamericanchiropractor.com/article/2016/3/1/icd-10-coding-for-scoliosis
Mira AI Scribe
Mira AI Scribe captures the child's date of birth, the date scoliosis was first identified, the specific lumbar end vertebrae, the Cobb angle measurement, and any imaging findings (X-ray series, Risser grade if applicable). It also flags absence of congenital anomalies in the note, which defends M41.06 against Excludes1 audit triggers and prevents a downcode to the unspecified parent M41.00.
See how Mira captures M41.06 documentation