M75.51

Inflammatory condition of the bursa in the right shoulder, encompassing subacromial, subdeltoid, subcoracoid, and scapulothoracic bursitis localized to the right side.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 5 sources ↓

Status: Billable
Chapter: 13
Related CPT: 10
Region: Shoulder

Drawn from CDCICD10DataCMS

Documentation tips

What should appear in the chart to support M75.51.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 5 cited references ↓

Explicitly name the affected side as 'right' in the diagnosis line — do not rely on the physical exam alone to establish laterality for coding purposes.
Specify the bursa involved when possible (subacromial, subdeltoid, subcoracoid, scapulothoracic) to support clinical validity and audit defense.
Record imaging findings that confirm bursitis: ultrasound bursal thickening measurements, MRI signal changes within the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa, or X-ray findings ruling out calcific tendinitis.
Document positive provocative signs (e.g., Neer's sign, Hawkins-Kennedy) and tenderness localized to the subacromial space to support clinical diagnosis when imaging is not obtained.
If conservative treatment has been tried prior to injection, note the failed modalities (PT, NSAIDs, activity modification) to satisfy medical necessity requirements for CPT 20610.

Related CPT procedures

Procedure codes commonly billed with M75.51. 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.

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.

73020 $21.71

Single-view radiographic examination of the shoulder joint

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.

97140 $27.72

Skilled, hands-on manual therapy techniques — including joint mobilization/manipulation, manual lymphatic drainage, and manual traction — applied to one or more body regions, billed per 15-minute unit.

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.

99203 $117.57

New patient office or outpatient visit requiring a medically appropriate history and/or examination with low-complexity medical decision-making, or 30–44 minutes of total provider time on the date of the encounter.

99204 $177.36

New patient office or outpatient visit requiring moderate medical decision making, or 45–59 minutes of total provider time on the date of the encounter.

76942 View procedure details

Common coding pitfalls

The recurring mistakes coders make with M75.51 and adjacent codes.

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

Defaulting to M75.50 (unspecified shoulder) when the provider's note clearly states 'right' — always capture the documented laterality.
Using M75.51 when the provider has documented rotator cuff syndrome or impingement syndrome as the primary diagnosis; those map to M75.1- and M75.41 respectively, not M75.51.
Coding M75.51 alone when concurrent impingement syndrome (M75.41) is also documented — both codes are billable when both conditions are confirmed.
Applying M75.51 to a traumatic bursal injury — an acute injury to the right shoulder bursa from a specific event should be coded from the S40–S49 range, not M75.51.
Assuming a single bilateral code exists for shoulder bursitis; when both shoulders are affected, M75.51 and M75.52 must be listed separately.

Clinical context

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 5 cited references ↓

M75.51 is the correct code when the provider has documented bursitis of the right shoulder — whether described as subacromial, subdeltoid, subcoracoid, or scapulothoracic — and laterality is explicitly right-sided. Use it for both acute presentations and established chronic bursitis as long as the right shoulder is the documented site.

Do not use M75.51 when the diagnosis is rotator cuff syndrome (M75.1-) or adhesive capsulitis (M75.0-); those have separate category codes. If the note documents concurrent impingement syndrome of the right shoulder, code M75.41 separately — bursitis and impingement syndrome are distinct entities under M75 and may coexist. When both shoulders are involved, assign M75.51 for the right and M75.52 for the left; there is no single bilateral code for shoulder bursitis.

M75.51 groups to MS-DRG 557 (Tendonitis, Myositis and Bursitis with MCC) or 558 (without MCC) under MS-DRG v43.0. It is a supporting medical necessity diagnosis for subacromial corticosteroid injections (CPT 20610) per CMS LCD A52863, making laterality-specific coding directly relevant to injection reimbursement.

Sibling codes

Other billable codes under M75.5 (laterality / anatomic variants).

M75.50

Bursitis of unspecified shoulder

M75.52

Bursitis of left shoulder

Frequently asked questions

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

01What is the difference between M75.51 and M75.41?

M75.51 codes bursitis of the right shoulder; M75.41 codes impingement syndrome of the right shoulder. They are distinct diagnoses under ICD-10-CM and can be coded together when both are documented.

02Is there a bilateral code for shoulder bursitis?

No. ICD-10-CM does not provide a single bilateral code for shoulder bursitis. When both shoulders are affected, assign M75.51 for the right and M75.52 for the left on the same claim.

03Does M75.51 support medical necessity for a subacromial corticosteroid injection billed with CPT 20610?

Yes. CMS LCD A52863 (Pain Management — injection of tendon sheaths, ligaments, and related structures) explicitly lists M75.51 as a supporting ICD-10-CM code for CPT 20610.

04Can M75.51 be used for a traumatic right shoulder bursa injury?

No. M75.51 is a soft tissue disorder code appropriate for non-traumatic or chronic bursitis. An acute traumatic bursal injury should be coded from the S40–S49 injury range with the appropriate 7th-character encounter extension.

05What imaging finding best supports M75.51 for audit purposes?

Ultrasound demonstrating bursal thickening or fluid within the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa, or MRI showing increased signal in that space, are the most defensible findings. Document the specific measurement or grade when available.

06Should M25.511 (pain in right shoulder) be coded alongside M75.51?

Only if shoulder pain is a separately managed condition not fully explained by the bursitis diagnosis. Per ICD-10-CM coding guidelines, signs and symptoms integral to a confirmed diagnosis are not coded separately.

07What MS-DRGs does M75.51 map to for inpatient encounters?

Under MS-DRG v43.0, M75.51 groups to DRG 557 (Tendonitis, Myositis and Bursitis with MCC) or DRG 558 (Tendonitis, Myositis and Bursitis without MCC), depending on the presence of a major complication or comorbidity.

Sources & references

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

Mira AI Scribe

Mira AI Scribe captures right-side laterality, the specific bursa implicated (subacromial, subdeltoid, etc.), provocative test results (Neer's, Hawkins-Kennedy), imaging findings (ultrasound bursal thickening, MRI signal), and any prior conservative treatment — preventing a downcode to unspecified M75.50 and blocking medical necessity denials on corticosteroid injection claims.

See how Mira captures M75.51 documentation