Injuries to the thorax (S20-S29)
chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes
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Instructional notes
Includes: conditions that are coded here
- injuries of breast
- injuries of chest (wall)
- injuries of interscapular area
Excludes2: not included here, code separately if applicable
- 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)
Official coding guidelines
From the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2027 (CMS and NCHS). Links open the PDF at the right page.
Covers 7th character use and coding of injuries, fractures, burns, drug and toxic effects, abuse and neglect, and complications of care (S00-T88).
- Application of 7th Characters in Chapter 19 (page 77)
- Coding of Injuries (page 78)
- Coding of Traumatic Fractures (page 79)
- Coding of Burns and Corrosions (page 80)
- Adverse Effects, Poisoning, Underdosing and Toxic Effects (page 82)
- Adult and child abuse, neglect and other maltreatment (page 85)
- Complications of care (page 85)
Codes under S20-S29
S20-S29 can't be used on a claim. Pick a billable code below; grey headings group them.
- S20Superficial injury of thorax
- S21Open wound of thorax
- S22Fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine
- S23Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of thorax
- S24Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level
- S25Injury of blood vessels of thorax
- S26Injury of heart
- S27Injury of other and unspecified intrathoracic organs
- S28Crushing injury of thorax, and traumatic amputation of part of thorax
- S29Other and unspecified injuries of thorax
S20-S29 MS-DRGs
This code does not group to an MS-DRG as a principal diagnosis.
About the condition
Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.
Wounds and Injuries
An injury is damage to your body. It is a general term that refers to harm caused by accidents, falls, hits, weapons, and more. In the U.S., millions of people injure themselves every year. These injuries range from minor to life-threatening. Injuries can happen at work or play, indoors or outdoors, driving a car, or walking across the street.
Read more about wounds and injuries on MedlinePlus