ICD-10-CM · Spine

M41.23

Idiopathic scoliosis of undetermined subtype localized to the cervicothoracic spinal region (approximately C7–T1 junction), where no identifiable structural, neuromuscular, or congenital cause explains the lateral curvature.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 4 sources ↓

Status: Billable
Chapter: 13
Related CPT: 19
Region: Spine

Drawn from CDCicd10data.com 2026AAPCThe American

Documentation tips

What should appear in the chart to support M41.23.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 4 cited references ↓

Specify 'cervicothoracic region' by name in the clinical note — avoid legacy terms like 'cervicodorsal,' which do not map directly to this code.
Record the Cobb angle from standing full-spine radiographs; a measurement greater than 10° is required to confirm a true scoliotic curve and supports medical necessity.
Document the apex vertebral level of the curve (e.g., 'apex at C7–T1') to justify cervicothoracic region selection over M41.22 or M41.24.
If the patient's age and clinical presentation fit a named subtype (infantile, juvenile, adolescent), document that explicitly so the coder can select the more specific subtype code rather than the 'other idiopathic' category.
For multi-curve presentations, document each curve region separately with its own Cobb angle so each corresponding code can be supported individually.
Record the Risser score in skeletally immature patients — it supports prognosis documentation and is expected in audit-ready scoliosis records.

Related CPT procedures

Procedure codes commonly billed with M41.23. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.

Source · CMS LCDs · AAOS specialty guidance · claims-pattern analysis

72020 $23.71

Single-view radiologic examination of the spine at a specified level.

72040 $39.75

Radiologic examination of the cervical spine capturing two or three views (e.g., AP, lateral, oblique).

72050 $55.11

Radiologic examination of the cervical spine capturing a minimum of four views, used to evaluate alignment, fractures, degeneration, or other structural pathology of the neck.

72052 $62.79

Radiologic examination of the cervical spine using six or more distinct views, the highest-level plain-film cervical series in the CPT spine imaging family.

72070 $33.07

Two-view radiologic examination of the thoracic spine, including AP and lateral projections of the 12 thoracic vertebrae.

72080 $35.07

Radiologic examination of the thoracolumbar junction (where the thoracic and lumbar spine meet), requiring a minimum of two views.

20610 $68.81

Aspiration and/or injection of a major joint or bursa (shoulder, hip, knee, or subacromial bursa) performed without ultrasound guidance.

22800 $1,312.99

Posterior spinal arthrodesis for deformity correction spanning up to 6 vertebral segments, with or without application of a body cast.

22802 $1,936.25

Posterior spinal arthrodesis for deformity correction spanning 7 to 12 vertebral segments, with or without body cast application.

22804 $2,222.50

Posterior spinal arthrodesis for deformity correction spanning 13 or more vertebral segments, performed with or without application of a body cast.

22808 $1,754.55

Anterior spinal arthrodesis for deformity correction spanning 2 to 3 vertebral segments, performed with or without cast application.

22810 $1,795.97

Anterior spinal arthrodesis for deformity correction spanning 4 to 7 vertebral segments, including minimal discectomy to prepare each interspace.

22812 $1,970.99

Anterior spinal arthrodesis for deformity correction spanning eight or more vertebral segments, with or without cast application.

97110 $29.06

Therapeutic exercise billed per 15-minute unit, targeting strength, endurance, range of motion, or flexibility with direct one-on-one patient contact.

99213 $95.19

Established patient office or outpatient visit requiring 20–29 minutes of total time or low-complexity medical decision-making.

99214 $135.61

Office visit for an established patient requiring moderate-complexity medical decision making (MDM), or 30–39 minutes of total provider time on the date of service.

72072 View procedure details

72074 View procedure details

97530 View procedure details

Common coding pitfalls

The recurring mistakes coders make with M41.23 and adjacent codes.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CDC ICD-10-CM tabular guidance, AAOS coding references, and cited references ↓

Selecting M41.23 when the record clearly supports adolescent idiopathic scoliosis — use M41.123 for documented adolescent patients (ages 10–17) at the cervicothoracic level instead.
Dropping to M41.20 (site unspecified) when the operative or imaging report identifies the cervicothoracic region — always code to the highest specificity supported by documentation.
Failing to code all documented curve regions in a multi-curve presentation; each distinct regional curve with its own apex and Cobb angle warrants its own code.
Coding M41.23 alongside Q67.5 or Q76.3 — these are hard Excludes1 conflicts; if the scoliosis has a documented congenital structural cause, the M41 category does not apply.
Using M41.23 for postradiation or postprocedural scoliosis — those conditions belong to M96.5 and M96.89 respectively, regardless of the spinal region affected.

Clinical context

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 4 cited references ↓

M41.23 applies when a provider documents idiopathic scoliosis at the cervicothoracic region and the case does not meet criteria for infantile (M41.03), juvenile (M41.113), or adolescent (M41.123) idiopathic subtypes — or when the patient's age or subtype is not specified in the record. The cervicothoracic region spans roughly C7 to T1; a curve centered or apex-located there distinguishes M41.23 from adjacent codes M41.22 (cervical) and M41.24 (thoracic).

Multi-curve scoliosis is common at this spinal level. When a single patient presents with cervicothoracic, thoracic, and thoracolumbar curves, code each affected region separately — M41.23, M41.24, and M41.25 may all be reported on the same claim. List the primary or most clinically significant curve first.

Before selecting M41.23, confirm the Excludes1 restrictions: congenital scoliosis NOS (Q67.5), congenital scoliosis due to bony malformation (Q76.3), and postural congenital scoliosis (Q67.5) cannot be coded with M41.23. The Excludes2 codes — postprocedural scoliosis (M96.89) and postradiation scoliosis (M96.5) — represent distinct conditions that may be reported alongside M41.23 only if both are independently documented.

Sibling codes

Other billable codes under M41.2 (laterality / anatomic variants).

M41.27

Other idiopathic scoliosis, lumbosacral region

M41.24

Other idiopathic scoliosis, thoracic region

M41.25

Other idiopathic scoliosis, thoracolumbar region

M41.20

Other idiopathic scoliosis, site unspecified

M41.22

Other idiopathic scoliosis, cervical region

M41.26

Other idiopathic scoliosis, lumbar region

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 4 cited references ↓

01What distinguishes M41.23 from M41.123 (adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, cervicothoracic region)?

M41.123 is reserved for documented adolescent idiopathic scoliosis — typically ages 10–17 with no identifiable cause. M41.23 is the fallback 'other idiopathic' code used when the subtype (infantile, juvenile, adolescent) is not documented or the patient's age does not fit any of the three named subtypes. If age and clinical notes support adolescent AIS, M41.123 is the more specific and preferred code.

02Can M41.23 be used for adult-onset idiopathic scoliosis at the cervicothoracic level?

Yes. Adults who present with idiopathic scoliosis that does not qualify as a named pediatric subtype are appropriately coded to M41.23 when the curve apex is at the cervicothoracic region. Document patient age and confirm absence of a secondary cause to support the idiopathic classification.

03Can I report M41.23 together with M41.24 and M41.25 on the same claim?

Yes. Multi-curve scoliosis frequently spans multiple regions. Report each curve's regional code separately when the provider documents distinct curves with identifiable apices and Cobb angles in each region. List the clinically dominant curve first.

04Does M41.23 require a minimum Cobb angle for coding purposes?

ICD-10-CM does not specify a minimum Cobb angle threshold within the code definition itself, but a Cobb angle greater than 10° is the standard clinical criterion for diagnosing scoliosis. Documenting the measured angle strengthens medical necessity and protects against payer audits requesting clinical validation.

05What happens if the documentation says 'cervicodorsal scoliosis' instead of 'cervicothoracic'?

Per ICD-10-CM coding guidance, 'cervicodorsal' is an outdated anatomical term. Coders should query the provider to confirm the intended region and update clinical language to 'cervicothoracic' to align with ICD-10-CM terminology and prevent indexing ambiguity.

06Is M41.23 valid for kyphoscoliosis at the cervicothoracic level?

Yes. The M41 category explicitly includes kyphoscoliosis under its 'Includes' note, so M41.23 is appropriate when the deformity combines lateral curvature and kyphosis at the cervicothoracic region and meets the idiopathic criteria.

07Which CPT procedures most commonly link to M41.23?

Radiological evaluation codes such as 72050 and 72052 (cervical spine X-rays) and 72070–72074 (thoracic spine X-rays) are standard imaging companions. Surgical fusion codes (22800–22812) apply when operative correction is performed. Physical therapy codes 97110 and 97530 support conservative management claims.

Sources & references

Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.

01CDC ICD-10-CM Tabular List 2026 — https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd-10-cm/files.html
02icd10data.com 2026 — https://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes/M00-M99/M40-M43/M41-/M41.23
03AAPC Codify — https://www.aapc.com/codes/icd-10-codes/M41.23
04The American Chiropractor, ICD-10 Coding for Scoliosis, March 2016 — https://theamericanchiropractor.com/article/2016/3/1/icd-10-coding-for-scoliosis

Mira AI Scribe

The Mira AI Scribe captures the curve apex and region (cervicothoracic), Cobb angle from standing radiographs, patient age or skeletal maturity stage (Risser score), any prior treatment history, and the absence of a congenital or neuromuscular etiology — all required to distinguish M41.23 from subtype-specific codes and to block downcoding to M41.20 (unspecified site) or an audit flag for unsubstantiated idiopathic classification.

See how Mira captures M41.23 documentation