M00.029 Staphylococcal arthritis, unspecified elbow

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026. Acts as a Complication or Comorbidity (CC) as a secondary diagnosis.

Applies from M00 Pyogenic arthritis

Excludes2 (not included here)

• infection and inflammatory reaction due to internal joint prosthesis (T84.5-)

Applies from M00.0 Staphylococcal arthritis and polyarthritis

Use additional code

• code (B95.61-B95.8) to identify bacterial agent

Risk adjustment (HCC)

• CMS-HCC V28: HCC 92 — Bone/Joint/Muscle/Severe Soft Tissue Infections/Necrosis
• CMS-HCC V22: HCC 39 — Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis
• ESRD V24: HCC 39

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 548-550 in MDC 08.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• 041.10 Staphylococcus infection in conditions classified elsewhere and of unspecified site, staphylococcus, unspecified (approximate)
• 711.02 Pyogenic arthritis, upper arm (approximate)
• 711.02 Pyogenic arthritis, upper arm (approximate)

Medicare Code Edits (MCE v43.1 (April 2026))

• Unspecified code (laterality): Unspecified codes for which a more specific code identifying laterality (right, left, bilateral) exists within the same code family.

Nearby codes

• M00.012 Staphylococcal arthritis, left shoulder
• M00.019 Staphylococcal arthritis, unspecified shoulder
• M00.02 Staphylococcal arthritis, elbow
• M00.021 Staphylococcal arthritis, right elbow
• M00.022 Staphylococcal arthritis, left elbow
• M00.029 Staphylococcal arthritis, unspecified elbow (this code)
• M00.03 Staphylococcal arthritis, wrist
• M00.031 Staphylococcal arthritis, right wrist
• M00.032 Staphylococcal arthritis, left wrist
• M00.039 Staphylococcal arthritis, unspecified wrist
• M00.04 Staphylococcal arthritis, hand