ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M65.9 - Synovitis and tenosynovitis, unspecified (original) (raw)
ICD List 2025-2026 Edition
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- 2026 ICD-10-CM Code M65.9
Synovitis and tenosynovitis, unspecified
ICD-10-CM Code:
M65.9
ICD-10 Code for:
Synovitis and tenosynovitis, unspecified
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Not chronic
Code Navigator:
M65.9 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity from the list below for a diagnosis of synovitis and tenosynovitis, unspecified. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2026 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.
Unspecified diagnosis codes like M65.9 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.
Non-specific codes like M65.9 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following billable codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for synovitis and tenosynovitis, unspecified:
Use M65.90 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, unspecified site
M65.91 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, shoulder
Use M65.911 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, right shoulder
Use M65.912 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, left shoulder
Use M65.919 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, unspecified shoulder
M65.92 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, upper arm
Use M65.921 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, right upper arm
Use M65.922 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, left upper arm
Use M65.929 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, unspecified upper arm
M65.93 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, forearm
Use M65.931 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, right forearm
Use M65.932 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, left forearm
Use M65.939 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, unspecified forearm
M65.94 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, hand
Use M65.941 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, right hand
Use M65.942 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, left hand
Use M65.949 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, unspecified hand
M65.95 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, thigh
Use M65.951 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, right thigh
Use M65.952 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, left thigh
Use M65.959 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, unspecified thigh
M65.96 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, lower leg
Use M65.961 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, right lower leg
Use M65.962 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, left lower leg
Use M65.969 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, unspecified lower leg
M65.97 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, ankle and foot
Use M65.971 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, right ankle and foot
Use M65.972 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, left ankle and foot
Use M65.979 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, unspecified ankle and foot
Use M65.98 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, other site
Use M65.99 for Unspecified synovitis and tenosynovitis, multiple sites
- Code Information
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- Other Codes Used Similar Conditions
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- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
M00–M99
Clinical Classifications group individual ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes into broader, clinically meaningful categories. These categories help simplify complex data by organizing related conditions under common clinical themes.
They are especially useful for data analysis, reporting, and clinical decision-making. Even when diagnosis codes differ, similar conditions can be grouped together based on their clinical relevance. Each category is assigned a unique CCSR code that represents a specific clinical concept, often tied to a body system or medical specialty.
CCSR Code: MUS009
Inpatient Default: Y - Yes, default inpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.
Outpatient Default: Y - Yes, default outpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.
Below are the ICD-9 codes that most closely match this ICD-10 code, based on the General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs). This ICD-10 to ICD-9 crosswalk tool is helpful for coders who need to reference legacy diagnosis codes for audits, historical claims, or approximate code comparisons.
ICD-9-CM: 727.00
This is a direct match with no additional mapping qualifiers. The absence of a flag generally means the mapping is considered exact or precise. In other words, the ICD-10 code maps cleanly to the ICD-9 code without qualification, approximation, or needing multiple codes.
Joint Disorders
What are joints?
Your joints are places where two or more bones come together. Your shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and knuckles are all joints. Your spine has joints, too.
But joints are more than bones. They include the soft tissues around them, such as cartilage, tendons and ligaments. Cartilage is the hard slippery flexible tissue that covers the ends of your bones at a joint. Tendons are tough, flexible bands that connect your muscles to your bones so you can move your joints. Ligaments connect the bones of the joint to each other to keep them stable when you move.
What are joint disorders?
Joint disorders are diseases or injuries that affect your joints. Injuries can happen because of overuse of a joint. Or you could have a sudden injury, such as an accident or a sports injury.
What diseases can affect the joints?
Many diseases can affect the joints. They often cause joint pain and make your joints stiff, red, or swollen. Most of them are chronic. That means they last a long time. Some may never go away completely. Some of the diseases that affect the joints include:
- Arthritis. Arthritis may cause joint pain and swelling. There are many types of this disease. Osteoarthritis is the most common type. Over time, arthritis can cause severe joint damage. It can affect people of all ages. A joint injury when you're young may cause osteoarthritis later in life.
- Lupus. This autoimmune disease affects many parts of the body and can cause joint and muscle pain. Some types of lupus often cause arthritis.
- Sjögren's Syndrome. This autoimmune disease affects glands that make moisture in many parts of the body. The main symptoms are dry eyes and mouth, but it often causes joint pain, too.
Treatments are different depending on the disease. But most treatments include medicines and therapies to relieve pain and other symptoms.
What types of joint disorders happen from sudden injuries?
Joint disorders from sudden injuries include:
- Sprains and strains. Sprains are stretched or torn ligaments. Acute strains are stretched or torn muscles or tendons that happen from a sudden injury or movement, such as lifting a heavy object.
- Dislocated joints. A joint is dislocated when the bones are pushed or pulled out of position. A joint dislocation is a medical emergency.
Treatment depends on the type of injury. You can treat many sports injuries at home. But you should call your health care provider if you:
- Have a lot of joint pain, swelling or numbness
- Can't put weight on the joint
- Have pain from an old injury with more swelling, an unstable joint, or a joint that isn't normal in another way
What types of joint disorders happen from overuse?
Overuse injuries usually damage the soft tissues of the joint. They can happen when you work a joint too hard by doing the same movements over and over. For example, you could get an overuse injury from playing a musical instrument, playing sports, or doing certain jobs, such as carpentry or painting.
Joint overuse injuries include:
- Bursitis. The bursa is a small fluid-filled sac. It works as a pad between the bones of a joint and the moving parts around it, such as muscles, tendons and skin. With bursitis, the bursa becomes irritated and swollen with extra fluid. Overuse is the most common cause, but injuries, infections and other conditions, such as arthritis, can cause bursitis.
- Tendinitis. This condition happens when you overuse a tendon. It swells and makes the joint painful to move.
- Chronic strain. A strain becomes chronic when your muscles or tendons stretch or tear slowly over time from repeating the same movements.
The treatments for bursitis, tendinitis, and chronic strain are often the same. They usually include rest, keeping the injured joint higher than your heart, and taking medicine to reduce swelling. Your provider may recommend gentle exercise and other treatment. In some cases, your provider may suggest an injection (a shot) of medicine into the joint. If these do not help, you may need surgery.
How can I keep my joints healthy?
Getting enough physical activity is one of the most important things you can do to prevent or slow joint disorders. Activity strengthens the muscles around your joints and helps them work better.
When you play sports, wear the right equipment to protect your joints, such as knee pads. If you already have joint problems, ask your provider what type of activities are best for you.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Tendinitis
Tendons are flexible bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. They help your muscles move your bones. Tendinitis is the severe swelling of a tendon.
Tendinitis usually happens after repeated injury to an area such as the wrist or ankle. It causes pain and soreness around a joint. Some common forms of tendinitis are named after the sports that increase their risk. They include tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, pitcher's shoulder, swimmer's shoulder, and jumper's knee.
Doctors diagnose tendinitis with your medical history, a physical exam, and imaging tests. The first step in treatment is to reduce pain and swelling. Rest, wrapping or elevating the affected area, and medicines can help. Ice is helpful for recent, severe injuries. Other treatments include ultrasound, physical therapy, steroid injections, and surgery.
FY 2026 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2025 through 9/30/2026
FY 2025 - Code Deleted, effective from 10/1/2024 through 9/30/2025
FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.