Z87.39

🩺 ICD-10 CM Z87.39 — Personal History of Other Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue

Quick Reference

Billable: ✅ Yes | Code Type: Historical / personal history code | Use When: Prior musculoskeletal or connective tissue disease is documented as resolved or past history | Not for: Active disease, healed traumatic fracture, or current follow-up care¹²

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📋 Clinical Description

ICD-10 CM Z87.39 is used when the provider documents a personal history of another musculoskeletal or connective tissue disease that is no longer active.¹ This code belongs in Chapter 21 and is used to show that the patient has a relevant past history that may affect current care, risk assessment, or surveillance.²

This code is not used for an active disorder, and it should not be used as a substitute for a current diagnosis such as arthritis, osteoporosis, myopathy, or connective tissue disease.² If the condition is still active, code the current condition instead of a history code.²

This code may be used in these clinical contexts:

• Resolved inflammatory or degenerative musculoskeletal disease — The condition is no longer active, but the history is still clinically relevant.¹
• Past connective tissue disorder — A prior connective tissue condition is documented as part of the patient’s medical history.¹
• Risk-factor documentation — The history is being tracked because it may affect current evaluation, treatment planning, or monitoring.²
• Follow-up after treatment — Use only when the active disease has resolved and the encounter is not for current treatment of that condition; follow-up guidance may require Z09 first when applicable.¹²

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🔬 Code Structure & Use

Element	Meaning	Coding Impact
Z	Factors influencing health status and contact with health services	Indicates the code is a history/status code, not an active disease code.
87	Personal history of other diseases and conditions	Identifies personal history reporting.
.39	Other diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue	Used when no more specific personal history code applies.

Clinical Pearl

Z87.39 is a history code, so it should support the chart, not replace a current diagnosis. If documentation describes an active musculoskeletal disorder, use the active disease code first and reserve Z87.39 for relevant past history.¹²

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✅ What This Code Captures

• Prior musculoskeletal disease that is no longer active.¹
• Prior connective tissue disease that is no longer active.¹
• History documentation that supports current care planning.²
• Relevant past history that does not meet criteria for an active diagnosis.²

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❌ Excludes / Do Not Use Together

Code	Description	Relationship to Z87.39
Z87.3	Personal history of diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue	Parent code; do not use the parent code when Z87.39 is more specific.
Z87.31	Personal history of (healed) nontraumatic fracture	Use this instead when the history is specifically a healed nontraumatic fracture.1
Z87.81	Personal history of (healed) traumatic fracture	Use this instead when the history is specifically a healed traumatic fracture.1
Z09	Follow-up examination after treatment	Code first when the encounter is specifically a follow-up after completed treatment rather than a general history of disease.1

Coding Alert

Z87.39 should not be used for current treatment, current symptoms, or unresolved disease. If the provider is still managing the condition, code the active diagnosis instead of a history code.²

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🌳 Code Tree — Z87 Family

Z00-Z99  Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
│
└── Z87  Personal history of other diseases and conditions
    │
    ├── Z87.3   Personal history of diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
    │   ├── Z87.31  Personal history of (healed) nontraumatic fracture
    │   └── Z87.39  Personal history of other diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue  ← YOU ARE HERE
    │
    ├── Z87.4   Personal history of other diseases of the nervous system and sense organs
    ├── Z87.5   Personal history of complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
    └── Z87.8   Personal history of other specified conditions

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🩺 Common ICD-10-CM Pairings

Prior musculoskeletal history

ICD-10 Code	Description	HCC?	Clinical Notes
Z87.39	Personal history of other diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue	❌ No	Use when the history is relevant but the condition is no longer active.1
M06.9	Rheumatoid arthritis, unspecified	✅ Yes	Use if rheumatoid arthritis is active; do not replace with history code if still being treated.
M81.0	Age-related osteoporosis without current pathological fracture	❌ No	Use if osteoporosis is active; use history code only if the condition is documented as resolved.
M35.9	Systemic involvement of connective tissue, unspecified	❌ No	Use for active connective tissue disease when specificity is limited.

Healed fracture history

ICD-10 Code	Description	HCC?	Clinical Notes
Z87.31	Personal history of (healed) nontraumatic fracture	❌ No	Preferred when the history is specifically a healed nontraumatic fracture.1
Z87.81	Personal history of (healed) traumatic fracture	❌ No	Use for healed traumatic fracture history.1
Z09	Follow-up examination after treatment	❌ No	Use when the patient is being seen for routine follow-up after treatment completion.1

Coding Specificity Reminder

The most common specificity issue with Z87.39 is using it when the documentation supports a more specific history code such as healed traumatic fracture or healed nontraumatic fracture.¹ Another common error is using it for an active condition that still needs treatment.² If the history does not clearly support Z87.39, query the provider before selecting it.²

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🏥 MS-DRG Considerations (Inpatient)

Inpatient Coding Reminder

Z87.39 is a history code and does not independently drive MS-DRG assignment.² It may be reported as an additional diagnosis when the past musculoskeletal history is clinically relevant to the admission.² It does not replace the principal diagnosis and typically does not change grouping by itself.²

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📝 Coding Examples

Example 1 — Office Visit: Relevant History Only

Clinical Scenario: A patient is seen for routine hypertension follow-up. The chart notes a past history of resolved inflammatory arthritis, with no current joint pain, swelling, or treatment. The provider documents the history because it remains relevant to current medication selection and risk assessment.

Field	Code	Rationale
PDx / First-listed	I10	Current reason for visit.
Additional	Z87.39	Documents the resolved musculoskeletal history.1

Example 2 — Follow-Up After Resolved Condition

Clinical Scenario: A patient returns after prior treatment for a connective tissue disorder that is now resolved. The provider documents that the condition is no longer active and that the visit is solely to review ongoing status.

Field	Code	Rationale
PDx / First-listed	Z09	Follow-up after completed treatment.
Additional	Z87.39	Past musculoskeletal/connective tissue history, if still clinically relevant.1

Example 3 — Healed Fracture History Query

Clinical Scenario: The provider writes “history of prior fracture” but does not specify whether it was traumatic or nontraumatic. No active fracture is present.

Field	Code	Rationale
PDx / First-listed	Z87.81 or Z87.31	Select the more specific healed fracture history if documented.
Additional	Z87.39	Use only if the history is not a fracture and better fits musculoskeletal/connective tissue history.1

Warning

If the note only says “history of arthritis” without confirming whether it is active or resolved, do not guess. Query for specificity before assigning Z87.39.²

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⚠️ Common Coding Pitfalls

• Using Z87.39 for active disease: If the musculoskeletal or connective tissue condition is still being treated or monitored as active, the history code is incorrect.²
• Missing a more specific history code: If the history is actually healed traumatic fracture or healed nontraumatic fracture, use the specific code instead of Z87.39.¹
• Confusing follow-up with history: When the encounter is for completed treatment follow-up, Z09 may be the correct first-listed code, with history codes reported only as appropriate.¹
• Using the parent code instead of the billable child code: Z87.3 is the parent category; Z87.39 is the billable specific code to use when the record supports “other” musculoskeletal/connective tissue history.¹
• Coding without documentation support: If the record does not clearly establish that the condition is historical and no longer active, query the provider.²

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📎 Sources

_{1. AAPC Codify, ICD-10-CM Z87.39 — Personal history of other diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. 2. CMS, ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2026, Section I.A and Chapter 21 guidance. 3. Unbound Medicine ICD-10-CM 2026 entry for Z87.39.} Sources used: AAPC Codify Z87.39; CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines; Unbound Medicine ICD-10-CM entry for Z87.39.¹²³