M46.23: Osteomyelitis of vertebra Cervicothoracic region

You have vertebral inflammation at the junction between your cervical spine and your thoracic spine.

The spine consists of several sections. The cervical spine begins below the head. The cervical spine is very mobile. Below that is the thoracic spine. The ribs are attached to the thoracic spine. Below the thoracic spine is the lumbar spine. The lumbar spine is also very mobile and it bears a large part of the body’s weight. After the lumbar spine, the sacrum and coccyx join.

Vertebral inflammation can be caused by pathogens. The pathogens can get into the vertebrae via small wounds or via the blood vessels. Pathogens may also get into the vertebral bone after an operation or after an accident.

Vertebral inflammation can cause fever and general fatigue. The vertebrae may also be damaged by the inflammation. When vertebrae get damaged their shape can change. Consequently, the shape of the spine can also change.

Additional indicator

On medical documents, the ICD code is often appended by letters that indicate the diagnostic certainty or the affected side of the body.

  • G: Confirmed diagnosis
  • V: Tentative diagnosis
  • Z: Condition after
  • A: Excluded diagnosis
  • L: Left
  • R: Right
  • B: Both sides

Further information

Note

This information is not intended for self-diagnosis and does not replace professional medical advice from a doctor. If you find an ICD code on a personal medical document, please also note the additional indicator used for diagnostic confidence.
Your doctor will assist you with any health-related questions and explain the ICD diagnosis code to you in a direct consultation if necessary.

Source

Provided by the non-profit organization “Was hab’ ich?” gemeinnützige GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG).