M89.16 Physeal arrest, lower leg

ICD-10-CM Code M89.16: Physeal arrest, lower leg

ICD-10-CM code M89.16 is an active diagnosis concept representing physeal arrest of the lower leg. It falls under the parent concept M89.1. While an official terminology record states this code has no narrower concepts, a separate code tree source lists multiple specific child codes designating laterality and completeness. 1 3

Plain-language overview

Premature growth arrest is characterized by an unexpected discontinuation of longitudinal or appositional bone growth secondary to an insult to the growth plate prior to skeletal maturity. 2

What this code represents

ICD-10-CM code M89.16 is an active terminology record representing a disease or syndrome with the preferred name of physeal arrest, lower leg, and it has no narrower concepts. 1

The M89.16 code falls under the parent concept M89.1, which is the general classification for physeal arrest within the ICD-10-CM terminology system, according to the official record. 1

Coding details

A code tree source lists specific child codes under M89.16 that designate complete or partial physeal arrest at the proximal or distal tibia, including right and left laterality. 3

Additional child codes listed under M89.16 include other physeal arrest of the lower leg and physeal arrest of the lower leg when the specific side or site is unspecified. 3

Clinical context

Etiologies of growth arrest include Blount's disease, infection, neoplasm, irradiation, metabolic or hematologic abnormalities, ischemia, disuse, and iatrogenic injury. 2

Documentation considerations

The code tree lists specific child codes for M89.16 that distinguish between complete and partial arrest, right and left laterality, and proximal versus distal tibia locations. 3

What the sources add

The official terminology record identifies M89.16 as an active concept with no narrower concepts, while a code tree source lists multiple specific child codes designating laterality and completeness. 1 3

The clinical literature source adds that growth arrest incidence varies depending on physeal location, type of injury, and treatment received, occurring in 5 to 10 percent of physeal fractures. 2

Sources

1. ICD-10-CM M89.16 terminology record — National Cancer Institute Enterprise Vocabulary Services; accessed 2026-07-27.
2. Management of growth arrest: Current practice and future directions — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
3. ICD-10-CM 2024 | M89 - Other disorders of bone — unboundmedicine.com; accessed 2026-07-27.