Coding and coverage · ICD-10-CM

S24 Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level

Not billable (header)Chapter 19

This code needs a 7th character (use X as a placeholder for missing characters).

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Codes under this one

  • S24.0 Concussion and edema of thoracic spinal cordHeader
  • S24.1 Other and unspecified injuries of thoracic spinal cordHeader
  • S24.2 Injury of nerve root of thoracic spineHeader
  • S24.3 Injury of peripheral nerves of thoraxHeader
  • S24.4 Injury of thoracic sympathetic nervous systemHeader
  • S24.8 Injury of other specified nerves of thoraxHeader
  • S24.9 Injury of unspecified nerve of thoraxHeader

Instructional notes

Chapter 19

Excludes2Not included here: the patient may have both; report both when both are present.
Use additional codeAdd a second code for the full picture.
  • code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Notes
  • Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code
  • The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.

Section S20-S29

Excludes2Not included here: the patient may have both; report both when both are present.
  • burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
  • effects of foreign body in bronchus (T17.5)
  • effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1)
  • effects of foreign body in lung (T17.8)
  • effects of foreign body in trachea (T17.4)
  • frostbite (T33-T34)
  • injuries of axilla
  • injuries of clavicle
  • injuries of scapular region
  • injuries of shoulder
  • insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
Includes
  • injuries of breast
  • injuries of chest (wall)
  • injuries of interscapular area

This code

Excludes2Not included here: the patient may have both; report both when both are present.
  • injury of brachial plexus (S14.3)
Code also
  • any associated:
  • fracture of thoracic vertebra (S22.0-)
  • open wound of thorax (S21.-)
  • transient paralysis (R29.5)
Notes
  • Code to highest level of thoracic spinal cord injury
  • Injuries to the spinal cord (S24.0 and S24.1) refer to the cord level and not bone level injury, and can affect nerve roots at and below the level given.
7th charactersThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S24
  • A initial encounter
  • D subsequent encounter
  • S sequela

Chapter 19: Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes · S20-S29 Injuries to the thorax (S20-S29)

Source: ICD-10-CM FY 2027 code descriptions and tabular list (CMS and CDC National Center for Health Statistics), effective 2026-10-01 through 2027-09-30 · CMS ICD-10 files. HCC mapping: CMS-HCC V28, payment year 2027. As of 2026-11-04.

Coverage and payment depend on the claim details; confirm with the Medicare Administrative Contractor.