M67.39

Transient synovitis affecting multiple joint sites simultaneously, classified under other disorders of synovium and tendon.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 5 sources ↓

Status: Billable
Chapter: 13
Related CPT: 10
Region: Multi-region

Drawn from CDCicd10data.com —CMSPMC

Documentation tips

What should appear in the chart to support M67.39.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 5 cited references ↓

Explicitly name each affected joint in the clinical note — vague language like 'multiple joints' without identification risks downcoding to M67.38 (other site) or an unspecified code.
Record the onset, duration, and self-limiting nature of symptoms at each site to support transient synovitis over infectious or inflammatory arthropathy diagnoses.
Document imaging results (ultrasound or MRI) confirming joint effusion or synovial thickening at each involved site to substantiate multi-site involvement.
Note any prior workup ruling out septic arthritis, reactive arthritis, or juvenile idiopathic arthritis — payers may scrutinize multi-site transient synovitis without supporting differential documentation.
If conservative treatment (NSAIDs, rest, physical therapy) was initiated, document that at each affected joint to establish medical necessity for the encounter.

Related CPT procedures

Procedure codes commonly billed with M67.39. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.

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

20600 $56.11

Needle aspiration and/or injection of a small joint or bursa — such as a finger or toe joint — performed without ultrasound guidance.

20604 $87.18

Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection of a small joint or bursa (e.g., fingers, toes) performed with ultrasound guidance, including permanent image recording and reporting.

20605 $57.12

Aspiration and/or injection of an intermediate joint or bursa — such as the wrist, elbow, ankle, acromioclavicular joint, or olecranon bursa — performed without ultrasound guidance.

20606 $94.19

Aspiration and/or injection of an intermediate joint or bursa — such as the wrist, elbow, ankle, acromioclavicular, temporomandibular, or olecranon bursa — performed with real-time ultrasound guidance and permanent image recording and reporting.

20610 $68.81

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

20611 $104.21

Aspiration or injection of a major joint or bursa performed under real-time ultrasound guidance, with permanent image documentation.

27369 $181.70

Injection of contrast material into the knee joint in preparation for contrast knee arthrography, contrast-enhanced CT arthrography, or contrast-enhanced MRI arthrography.

73564 $49.43

Radiologic examination of the knee consisting of four or more views, including oblique and tunnel projections, for a complete diagnostic workup.

73630 $34.07

Radiologic examination of the foot requiring a minimum of three views, used to evaluate fractures, arthritis, tumors, or structural abnormalities.

77002 View procedure details

Common coding pitfalls

The recurring mistakes coders make with M67.39 and adjacent codes.

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

Assigning M67.39 when only one joint is involved — if documentation names a single joint, use the site-specific and laterality-specific M67.3x code instead.
Stacking multiple single-site M67.3x codes alongside M67.39 for the same encounter — M67.39 already captures multi-site involvement; duplicate site codes create claim redundancy and audit risk.
Confusing transient synovitis with infectious synovitis (M65.0x) or villonodular synovitis (M12.2x) — the underlying pathology must be documented as transient and non-infectious before assigning any M67.3x code.
Failing to distinguish M67.39 from M67.38 (other site) — M67.38 is for a single site not listed elsewhere, not for multiple sites.
Omitting a secondary code for any underlying condition if the synovitis is secondary to a systemic disorder — transient synovitis is typically idiopathic, but document if a contributing cause is identified.

Clinical context

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 5 cited references ↓

M67.39 is the correct code when transient synovitis is documented at two or more distinct joint sites and no single-site code captures the full clinical picture. Transient synovitis is a self-limiting inflammatory condition of the synovial lining, typically presenting with joint effusion, pain, and reduced range of motion. When involvement spans multiple joints — for example, concurrent hip and knee, or wrist and ankle — M67.39 is the appropriate billable code rather than assigning multiple single-site M67.3x codes.

Within the M67.3 hierarchy, site-specific codes (M67.31–M67.37, M67.38) take precedence when only one joint is affected. Reserve M67.39 strictly for documented multi-site involvement. If the encounter note names only one joint, use the laterality-specific code for that site. M67.39 carries no laterality extension because by definition it spans more than one anatomic location.

M67.39 maps to MS-DRG 557 (Tendonitis, myositis and bursitis with MCC) or 558 (without MCC) under DRG v43.0. This code falls within the soft tissue disorders section (M65–M67) of Chapter 13. No 7th-character extension is required — M67.39 is a complete, billable code as stated.

Sibling codes

Other billable codes under M67.3 (laterality / anatomic variants).

M67.38

Transient synovitis, other site

M67.30

Transient synovitis, unspecified site

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 5 cited references ↓

01When should I use M67.39 instead of multiple individual M67.3x codes?

Use M67.39 as a single code when two or more joint sites are affected by transient synovitis in the same encounter. Do not stack individual site-specific codes alongside M67.39 — it already captures multi-site involvement.

02Does M67.39 require a 7th-character extension?

No. M67.39 is a complete 5-character billable code. Seventh-character extensions apply to Chapter 19 injury codes (S-codes) and select other categories — not to M67.3x synovitis codes.

03Can M67.39 be used for pediatric patients with transient synovitis of the hip plus another joint?

Yes. If the clinical note documents transient synovitis at the hip and at least one additional site, M67.39 is appropriate regardless of patient age. If only the hip is involved, use M67.351 (right), M67.352 (left), or M67.359 (unspecified).

04What is the difference between M67.38 and M67.39?

M67.38 covers transient synovitis at a single site not captured by any other M67.3x subcategory. M67.39 is exclusively for multi-site involvement. Choosing between them depends entirely on how many distinct joints are documented.

05Which MS-DRGs does M67.39 map to?

M67.39 groups to MS-DRG 557 (Tendonitis, myositis and bursitis with MCC) or MS-DRG 558 (without MCC) under DRG grouper v43.0, per icd10data.com referencing CMS MS-DRG v43.0.

06Should I code the underlying cause separately when reporting M67.39?

Transient synovitis is typically idiopathic and coded alone. If an underlying systemic or reactive condition is documented as the cause, add a secondary code for that condition per ICD-10-CM instructional notes.

07Is M67.39 valid for outpatient and inpatient claims?

Yes. M67.39 is a billable/specific code effective October 1, 2015, with no changes through FY2026, and is valid for both outpatient and inpatient reimbursement claims per the CDC ICD-10-CM Tabular List 2026.

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/icd10cm.htm
02icd10data.com — 2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M67.39: https://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes/M00-M99/M65-M67/M67-/M67.39
03icd10data.com — 2026 ICD-10-CM Codes M67*: https://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes/M00-M99/M65-M67/M67-
04CMS MS-DRG v43.0 Grouper
05PMC — ICD-10 Coding of Musculoskeletal Conditions in the Veterans Health Administration: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8783617/

Mira AI Scribe

Mira AI Scribe captures the specific joints involved, laterality at each site, symptom onset and duration, imaging findings (effusion, synovial thickening), and documentation of differential diagnosis workup excluding infectious or inflammatory arthropathy. This prevents vague multi-joint documentation that forces a coder to default to an unspecified code, which can trigger payer scrutiny and medical necessity denials.

See how Mira captures M67.39 documentation