ICD-10-CM · Other

M71.48

M71.48 identifies calcium deposits within a bursa at a site that does not have its own specific ICD-10-CM code — covering bursae outside the shoulder, hip, knee, elbow, wrist, hand, ankle, and foot.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 4 sources ↓

Status: Billable
Chapter: 13
Related CPT: 16
Region: Other

Drawn from CDCICD10DataAAPCCMS

Documentation tips

What should appear in the chart to support M71.48.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 4 cited references ↓

Name the exact bursa and anatomic site affected — generic 'bursitis' without specifying the bursa makes it impossible to confirm M71.48 is the most specific available code.
Confirm the site does not map to a more specific M71.4x sibling code (elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, foot) before assigning M71.48.
Document imaging results that confirm calcium deposit presence — plain radiograph findings, ultrasound echogenicity, or CT/MRI description of calcification within the bursa.
Distinguish the etiology from overuse or pressure bursitis (which would fall under M70.-); document that the condition is calcareous rather than mechanical in origin.
If the shoulder bursa is involved, do not use M71.48 — the Excludes2 note directs you to M75.3 for calcium deposit in the shoulder bursa.

Related CPT procedures

Procedure codes commonly billed with M71.48. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.

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

20610 $68.81

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

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.

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.

73010 $25.05

Radiologic examination of the scapula (shoulder blade), complete — capturing all standard views needed to evaluate fractures, dislocations, bone lesions, or structural abnormalities of the scapula.

73030 $35.74

Radiologic examination of the shoulder requiring a minimum of two views, reported as a single unit regardless of how many views are obtained.

73060 $32.06

Radiologic examination of the humerus (upper arm bone), requiring a minimum of 2 views.

73100 $34.40

Radiologic examination of the wrist with a minimum of two views.

73130 $38.08

Radiographic examination of the hand requiring a minimum of three views.

73560 $34.40

Radiologic examination of the knee joint, one or two views, unilateral.

73562 $42.42

Three-view radiographic examination of the knee joint, capturing anteroposterior, lateral, and a third angle such as a sunrise or oblique view.

73564 $49.43

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

73600 $32.40

Radiologic examination of the ankle joint, two views — typically AP and lateral — used to evaluate for fracture, dislocation, or other bony pathology.

73610 $37.07

Radiologic examination of the ankle joint requiring a minimum of three views, used to evaluate bone structure, alignment, and soft-tissue abnormalities.

73630 $34.07

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

76881 View procedure details

76882 View procedure details

Common coding pitfalls

The recurring mistakes coders make with M71.48 and adjacent codes.

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

Assigning M71.48 for calcific shoulder bursitis violates the Excludes2 note; use M75.3 instead when the shoulder is the documented site.
Using M71.48 when a site-specific M71.4x code exists (e.g., elbow, hip, knee) understates specificity and can trigger a payer audit or claim edit.
Confusing M71.48 with M70.x bursitis codes — M70 is for use/overuse/pressure etiology; M71.48 requires documentation of an actual calcium deposit.
Omitting the imaging-confirmed calcium deposit from the encounter documentation, leaving the calcareous etiology unsupported and the code vulnerable to denial.

Clinical context

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 4 cited references ↓

M71.48 is the catch-all code within the M71.4x subcategory for calcareous bursitis occurring at anatomic sites not individually enumerated in the classification. The M71.4x family assigns specific codes to the shoulder (excluded via Excludes2 to M75.3), elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, and foot. Any calcific deposit in a bursa at a site not covered by those codes — for example, a prepatellar bursa variant coded elsewhere, an abdominal wall bursa, or a thoracic wall bursa — routes to M71.48.

Do not use M71.48 for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder; that condition is excluded by the Excludes2 note directing you to M75.3. Also distinguish M71.48 from M70.x bursopathies: M70 codes are reserved for bursitis caused by repetitive use, overuse, or pressure, while M71 captures calcium deposits, infections, cysts, and other non-mechanical bursopathies. If the site has a specific M71.4x code available, that more specific code is required — M71.48 is only correct when no site-specific option exists.

Clinically, calcific bursitis presents with localized pain, swelling, and restricted motion at the affected bursa. Imaging — plain radiograph or ultrasound — typically confirms the calcium deposit. Treatment may range from conservative management to aspiration, corticosteroid injection, or surgical debridement depending on severity and chronicity.

Sibling codes

Other billable codes under M71.4 (laterality / anatomic variants).

M71.49

Calcium deposit in bursa, multiple sites

M71.40

Calcium deposit in bursa, unspecified site

Frequently asked questions

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

01When is M71.48 the correct code versus a more specific M71.4x sibling?

Use M71.48 only when the calcium deposit is in a bursa at a site that has no dedicated M71.4x code. If the site is the elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, or foot, a more specific sibling code is required. M71.48 is the legitimate choice for bursae at uncommon or non-enumerated anatomic locations.

02Can I use M71.48 for calcific bursitis of the shoulder?

No. The ICD-10-CM Tabular List places an Excludes2 note on M71.4 directing calcium deposit in the shoulder bursa to M75.3. Assigning M71.48 for a shoulder site is a coding error regardless of the clinical presentation.

03What is the difference between M71.48 and M70.x bursitis codes?

M70.x codes are reserved for bursitis caused by use, overuse, or pressure — mechanical etiologies. M71.48 belongs to the M71 category covering non-mechanical bursopathies including calcium deposits, infections, and cysts. The etiology documented by the provider determines which category applies.

04Is imaging required to support M71.48?

ICD-10-CM does not require imaging as a coding condition, but payers routinely expect clinical documentation that confirms a calcium deposit is present. Plain radiograph, ultrasound, or advanced imaging findings supporting calcification within the bursa are the most defensible form of documentation and should appear in the encounter record.

05Does M71.48 require a laterality character?

No. M71.48 is a five-character code without a laterality extension in the current ICD-10-CM structure. Site specificity is captured through the 'other site' designation, but the code does not have a right/left/bilateral breakdown. Document laterality in the clinical note even though the code does not encode it.

06What CPT procedures are typically billed alongside M71.48?

Aspiration or injection of the affected bursa (20600, 20605, 20610 depending on joint size) and diagnostic imaging codes for radiographs or ultrasound are the most common procedure pairings. The specific CPT code depends on the anatomic size classification of the bursa involved, so document bursa location and size.

Sources & references

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

01CDC ICD-10-CM Tabular List 2026
02
icd10data.com
https://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes/M00-M99/M70-M79/M71-/M71.48
03
aapc.com
https://www.aapc.com/codes/icd-10-codes/M71.48
04
cms.gov
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/fy-2025-icd-10-cm-coding-guidelines.pdf

Mira AI Scribe

The Mira AI Scribe captures the exact bursa name and anatomic site, the confirmed calcareous nature of the deposit (including imaging modality and findings), and whether conservative treatment has been attempted. This specificity prevents misrouting to a site-specific M71.4x code that doesn't apply — or, worse, a generic bursitis code that drops the calcium deposit etiology entirely — and keeps the claim defensible on audit.

See how Mira captures M71.48 documentation