ICD-10 Code A18.0 – Tuberculosis of bones and joints (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A18.0 – Tuberculosis of bones and joints
What it is
A18.0 identifies tuberculosis infection involving bone or joint tissue. Use it when documentation shows skeletal or articular tuberculosis rather than pulmonary disease alone.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Commonly, you may see chronic joint pain, swelling, reduced range of motion, or spinal involvement with deformity or tenderness.
When to use this code
Use A18.0 when the provider documents tuberculosis affecting a bone, joint, or the spine as part of extrapulmonary TB. It may appear with imaging, biopsy, or other evidence supporting skeletal involvement. If the record only says “history of TB” or gives an unspecified musculoskeletal infection, check documentation before coding.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for pulmonary tuberculosis without bone or joint involvement. Also avoid it when the chart does not clearly link the infection to bone or joint tissue.
Coding tip
Code A18.0 only when the documentation explicitly identifies skeletal or joint tuberculosis; otherwise, query for site clarification.