ICD-10-PCS Code For Lumbar Vertebra: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group 0Q50 includes procedures performed to destroy all or a portion of lumbar vertebrae in the lower bones. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when a clinician performs direct destruction of lumbar vertebral tissue using energy, force, or a destructive agent as the definitive procedure. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS 0Q50 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the specific destructive procedure performed and determines appropriate case mix and payment.

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Lumbar Vertebra Destruction Procedure Overview

The procedures in ICD-10 PCS 0Q50 involve the destruction of all or part of one or more lumbar vertebrae using energy, force, or destructive agents. These procedures target the lower bones body system and specifically the lumbar vertebrae. Accurate coding of these destruction procedures is important for inpatient reimbursement because it documents the precise operation performed and supports appropriate case mix assignment and payment.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
Q	Body System	Lower Bones
5	Operation	Destruction
0	Body Part	Lumbar Vertebra

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Lumbar Vertebra: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Lumbar Vertebra Destruction Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
Q	Body System	Lower Bones
5	Operation	Destruction
0	Body Part	Lumbar Vertebra

When to Use

Use a code from this group when the operative intent is to destroy lumbar vertebral tissue rather than remove, repair, or replace it. These codes are appropriate when the record documents direct application of energy, force, or a destructive agent to the lumbar vertebrae as the primary operation.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

6 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0Q500Z3	Destruction of Lumbar Vertebra using Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy, Open Approach
0Q500ZZ	Destruction of Lumbar Vertebra, Open Approach
0Q503Z3	Destruction of Lumbar Vertebra using Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy, Percutaneous Approach
0Q503ZZ	Destruction of Lumbar Vertebra, Percutaneous Approach
0Q504Z3	Destruction of Lumbar Vertebra using Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach
0Q504ZZ	Destruction of Lumbar Vertebra, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

DRG Codes

12 rows

DRG Code	Description
495	Local Excision and Removal of Internal Fixation Devices Except Hip and Femur with MCC
496	Local Excision and Removal of Internal Fixation Devices Except Hip and Femur with CC
497	Local Excision and Removal of Internal Fixation Devices Except Hip and Femur without CC/MCC
907	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with MCC
908	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with CC
909	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries without CC/MCC
957	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC
958	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma with CC
959	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma without CC/MCC
987	Non-Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated to Principal Diagnosis with MCC

Showing 1–10 of 12

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient with a known metastatic spinal tumor presents with worsening localized lumbar pain and progressive neurologic deficits attributable to a destructive lesion confined to a single lumbar vertebral body. Imaging confirms a focal lytic tumor in the L3 vertebra amenable to image-guided thermal ablation to achieve local tumor control and pain relief without formal vertebral body resection. A percutaneous image-guided thermal laser procedure is performed to destroy the affected lumbar vertebral tissue as the definitive operation. Typical codes: 0Q503Z3
A middle-aged patient presents acutely after a high-energy motor vehicle collision with an unstable compression fracture of the L4 vertebral body causing severe pain and impending neurologic compromise; surgical stabilization is not indicated because the goal is to eliminate severely damaged vertebral bone that is a source of pain and infection risk. During an open operative procedure, direct destructive energy is applied to the compromised L4 vertebral body to eradicate nonviable bone fragments and control local pathology prior to reconstruction or adjunct stabilization. Typical codes: 0Q500ZZ
A patient with prior lumbar spine surgery presents with recurrent symptomatic focal osteomyelitis isolated to the L5 vertebral body refractory to antibiotics and prior debridement. To manage persistent infected bone and avoid extensive multi-level resection, a percutaneous endoscopic procedure is performed to directly destroy and ablate the infected portion of the L5 vertebra under endoscopic visualization. Typical codes: 0Q504Z3, 0Q504ZZ

Related Codes

0Q51-SACRUM-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Sacrum: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q52-PELVIC-BONE-RIGHT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pelvic Bone Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q53-LEFT-PELVIC-BONE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Pelvic Bone: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q54-ACETABULUM-RIGHT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Acetabulum Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q55-LEFT-ACETABULUM-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Acetabulum, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q56-UPPER-FEMUR-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Femur: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q57-UPPER-FEMUR-LEFT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Femur Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q58-FEMORAL-SHAFT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Femoral Shaft: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q59-LEFT-FEMORAL-SHAFT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Femoral Shaft, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q5B-LOWER-FEMUR-RIGHT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Femur Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 24

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

6 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0Q500Z3	Destruction of Lumbar Vertebra using Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy, Open Approach
0Q500ZZ	Destruction of Lumbar Vertebra, Open Approach
0Q503Z3	Destruction of Lumbar Vertebra using Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy, Percutaneous Approach
0Q503ZZ	Destruction of Lumbar Vertebra, Percutaneous Approach
0Q504Z3	Destruction of Lumbar Vertebra using Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach
0Q504ZZ	Destruction of Lumbar Vertebra, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

DRG Codes

12 rows

DRG Code	Description
495	Local Excision and Removal of Internal Fixation Devices Except Hip and Femur with MCC
496	Local Excision and Removal of Internal Fixation Devices Except Hip and Femur with CC
497	Local Excision and Removal of Internal Fixation Devices Except Hip and Femur without CC/MCC
907	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with MCC
908	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with CC
909	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries without CC/MCC
957	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC
958	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma with CC
959	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma without CC/MCC
987	Non-Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated to Principal Diagnosis with MCC

Showing 1–10 of 12

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient with a known metastatic spinal tumor presents with worsening localized lumbar pain and progressive neurologic deficits attributable to a destructive lesion confined to a single lumbar vertebral body. Imaging confirms a focal lytic tumor in the L3 vertebra amenable to image-guided thermal ablation to achieve local tumor control and pain relief without formal vertebral body resection. A percutaneous image-guided thermal laser procedure is performed to destroy the affected lumbar vertebral tissue as the definitive operation. Typical codes: 0Q503Z3
A middle-aged patient presents acutely after a high-energy motor vehicle collision with an unstable compression fracture of the L4 vertebral body causing severe pain and impending neurologic compromise; surgical stabilization is not indicated because the goal is to eliminate severely damaged vertebral bone that is a source of pain and infection risk. During an open operative procedure, direct destructive energy is applied to the compromised L4 vertebral body to eradicate nonviable bone fragments and control local pathology prior to reconstruction or adjunct stabilization. Typical codes: 0Q500ZZ
A patient with prior lumbar spine surgery presents with recurrent symptomatic focal osteomyelitis isolated to the L5 vertebral body refractory to antibiotics and prior debridement. To manage persistent infected bone and avoid extensive multi-level resection, a percutaneous endoscopic procedure is performed to directly destroy and ablate the infected portion of the L5 vertebra under endoscopic visualization. Typical codes: 0Q504Z3, 0Q504ZZ

Related Codes

0Q51-SACRUM-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Sacrum: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q52-PELVIC-BONE-RIGHT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pelvic Bone Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q53-LEFT-PELVIC-BONE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Pelvic Bone: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q54-ACETABULUM-RIGHT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Acetabulum Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q55-LEFT-ACETABULUM-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Acetabulum, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q56-UPPER-FEMUR-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Femur: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q57-UPPER-FEMUR-LEFT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Femur Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q58-FEMORAL-SHAFT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Femoral Shaft: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q59-LEFT-FEMORAL-SHAFT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Femoral Shaft, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0Q5B-LOWER-FEMUR-RIGHT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Femur Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 24

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lumbar Vertebra: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Lumbar Vertebra: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Lumbar Vertebra Destruction Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lumbar Vertebra: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Lumbar Vertebra: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Lumbar Vertebra Destruction Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What procedures are included in ICD-10-PCS code group 0Q50?

Which ICD-10-PCS codes represent destruction of the lumbar vertebra using Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy?

How are approach types reflected in the codes within the 0Q50 group?

What is the clinical documentation purpose of coding a 0Q50 procedure?

Which DRGs may be related to procedures in the 0Q50 lumbar vertebra destruction group?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What procedures are included in ICD-10-PCS code group 0Q50?

Which ICD-10-PCS codes represent destruction of the lumbar vertebra using Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy?

How are approach types reflected in the codes within the 0Q50 group?

What is the clinical documentation purpose of coding a 0Q50 procedure?

Which DRGs may be related to procedures in the 0Q50 lumbar vertebra destruction group?

References