ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group 0RB9 includes procedures performed to excise portions of the thoracic vertebral disc in the upper joints body system. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when a portion of the thoracic intervertebral disc is surgically removed to treat disc herniation, degeneration, or focal pathology causing neurologic compression. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS 0RB9 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the specific procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Thoracic Vertebral Disc Excision Procedure Overview

This group includes procedures that excise a portion of the thoracic vertebral disc within the spine. These excision procedures target the upper joints body system and involve removal of disc tissue to relieve compression or address pathology. Accurate ICD-10-PCS coding of these excisions ensures inpatient records reflect the operation performed and supports correct case mix assignment and reimbursement.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
R	Body System	Upper Joints
B	Operation	Excision
9	Body Part	Thoracic Vertebral Disc

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Thoracic Vertebral Disc Excision Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
R	Body System	Upper Joints
B	Operation	Excision
9	Body Part	Thoracic Vertebral Disc

When to Use

Use a code from this group when an inpatient surgical procedure involves excision of part of a thoracic intervertebral disc to alleviate compression or remove diseased tissue. These codes apply when no prosthetic or replacement of the disc is performed during the same operative episode.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

6 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0RB90ZX	Excision of Thoracic Vertebral Disc, Open Approach, Diagnostic
0RB90ZZ	Excision of Thoracic Vertebral Disc, Open Approach
0RB93ZX	Excision of Thoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Approach, Diagnostic
0RB93ZZ	Excision of Thoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Approach
0RB94ZX	Excision of Thoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach, Diagnostic
0RB94ZZ	Excision of Thoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

DRG Codes

12 rows

DRG Code	Description
028	Spinal Procedures with MCC
029	Spinal Procedures with CC or Spinal Neurostimulators
030	Spinal Procedures without CC/MCC
518	Back and Neck Procedures Except Spinal Fusion with MCC or Disc Device or Neurostimulator
519	Back and Neck Procedures Except Spinal Fusion with CC
520	Back and Neck Procedures Except Spinal Fusion 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

Showing 1–10 of 12

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult patient presents to the emergency department with sudden-onset thoracic radiculopathy and progressive lower-extremity weakness after a traumatic fall; MRI shows an acutely herniated thoracic intervertebral disc compressing the spinal cord. The patient is admitted for urgent decompression to remove the offending disc material and relieve neurologic compression; an open excision of the thoracic disc is performed because of large central herniation and need for direct visualization. Typical codes: 0RB90ZZ.
An older patient with chronic thoracic discogenic pain and recurrent radicular symptoms refractory to conservative care elects a planned minimally invasive procedure to remove a focal portion of a degenerative thoracic disc identified on preoperative imaging. The inpatient admission is for an elective percutaneous endoscopic excision to remove the symptomatic disc fragment and attempt symptom relief while avoiding open laminectomy. Typical codes: 0RB94ZZ, 0RB94ZX.
A patient with prior thoracic spine surgery develops persistent postoperative neurologic compression from residual or recurrent disc tissue and is readmitted for a targeted percutaneous excision to remove the residual disc material and address recurrent symptoms without implant placement. This procedure is performed percutaneously under imaging guidance to excise the problematic disc fragment. Typical codes: 0RB93ZZ, 0RB93ZX.

Related Codes

0RB0-OCCIPITAL-CERVICAL-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Occipital-Cervical Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB1-CERVICAL-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervical Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB3-CERVICAL-VERTEBRAL-DISC-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervical Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB4-CERVICOTHORACIC-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervicothoracic Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB5-CERVICOTHORACIC-VERTEBRAL-DISC-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB6-THORACIC-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBA-THORACOLUMBAR-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracolumbar Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBB-THORACOLUMBAR-VERTEBRAL-DISC-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracolumbar Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBC-TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT-RIGHT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Temporomandibular Joint Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBD-TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT-EXCISION

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

Showing 1–10 of 28

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
0RB90ZX	Excision of Thoracic Vertebral Disc, Open Approach, Diagnostic
0RB90ZZ	Excision of Thoracic Vertebral Disc, Open Approach
0RB93ZX	Excision of Thoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Approach, Diagnostic
0RB93ZZ	Excision of Thoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Approach
0RB94ZX	Excision of Thoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach, Diagnostic
0RB94ZZ	Excision of Thoracic Vertebral Disc, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

DRG Codes

12 rows

DRG Code	Description
028	Spinal Procedures with MCC
029	Spinal Procedures with CC or Spinal Neurostimulators
030	Spinal Procedures without CC/MCC
518	Back and Neck Procedures Except Spinal Fusion with MCC or Disc Device or Neurostimulator
519	Back and Neck Procedures Except Spinal Fusion with CC
520	Back and Neck Procedures Except Spinal Fusion 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

Showing 1–10 of 12

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult patient presents to the emergency department with sudden-onset thoracic radiculopathy and progressive lower-extremity weakness after a traumatic fall; MRI shows an acutely herniated thoracic intervertebral disc compressing the spinal cord. The patient is admitted for urgent decompression to remove the offending disc material and relieve neurologic compression; an open excision of the thoracic disc is performed because of large central herniation and need for direct visualization. Typical codes: 0RB90ZZ.
An older patient with chronic thoracic discogenic pain and recurrent radicular symptoms refractory to conservative care elects a planned minimally invasive procedure to remove a focal portion of a degenerative thoracic disc identified on preoperative imaging. The inpatient admission is for an elective percutaneous endoscopic excision to remove the symptomatic disc fragment and attempt symptom relief while avoiding open laminectomy. Typical codes: 0RB94ZZ, 0RB94ZX.
A patient with prior thoracic spine surgery develops persistent postoperative neurologic compression from residual or recurrent disc tissue and is readmitted for a targeted percutaneous excision to remove the residual disc material and address recurrent symptoms without implant placement. This procedure is performed percutaneously under imaging guidance to excise the problematic disc fragment. Typical codes: 0RB93ZZ, 0RB93ZX.

Related Codes

0RB0-OCCIPITAL-CERVICAL-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Occipital-Cervical Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB1-CERVICAL-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervical Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB3-CERVICAL-VERTEBRAL-DISC-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervical Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB4-CERVICOTHORACIC-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervicothoracic Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB5-CERVICOTHORACIC-VERTEBRAL-DISC-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cervicothoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RB6-THORACIC-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBA-THORACOLUMBAR-VERTEBRAL-JOINT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracolumbar Vertebral Joint: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBB-THORACOLUMBAR-VERTEBRAL-DISC-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracolumbar Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBC-TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT-RIGHT-EXCISION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Temporomandibular Joint Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0RBD-TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT-EXCISION

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

Showing 1–10 of 28

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 Thoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Thoracic Vertebral Disc Excision Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Thoracic Vertebral Disc: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Thoracic Vertebral Disc Excision Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in the ICD-10-PCS 0RB9 group?

What body system and operation does 0RB9 represent?

When should 0RB9 procedures be documented in inpatient records?

How does accurate coding in 0RB9 affect reimbursement and records?

Which DRG groups are related to procedures in the 0RB9 code group?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in the ICD-10-PCS 0RB9 group?

What body system and operation does 0RB9 represent?

When should 0RB9 procedures be documented in inpatient records?

How does accurate coding in 0RB9 affect reimbursement and records?

Which DRG groups are related to procedures in the 0RB9 code group?

References