All ICD10 Codes
S24Not billable, use a more specific code below

Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level

In Injuries to the thorax (S20-S29), chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes

93 billable codes under S24: 21 are an MCC; 57 map to HCC 182 (Spinal Cord Disorders/Injuries), HCC 181 (Paraplegia).A CC or MCC (major CC) is a secondary diagnosis that raises the MS-DRG payment. An HCC counts toward a Medicare Advantage patient's risk score.

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Instructional notes

Excludes2: not included here, code separately if applicable

  • injury of brachial plexus (S14.3)

Code also: add a code for this too, order depends on the encounter

  • any associated:
  • fracture of thoracic vertebra (S22.0-)
  • open wound of thorax (S21.-)
  • transient paralysis (R29.5)

Also applies, from Injuries to the thorax (S20-S29)

These notes sit on S20-S29 and apply to every code under it, including S24.

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).

Read Section I.C.19 (page 77)

All codes under S24

S24 can't be used on a claim. Pick a billable code below; grey headings group them.

S24 MS-DRGs

As the principal diagnosis, the billable codes under S24 group to these 12 MS-DRGs (v44.0). Which one applies depends on procedures performed, secondary diagnoses (CC/MCC), and the patient's age and discharge status.

Other codes that refer to S24

Notes on these codes point to S24.

  • G83.8 Excludes1: paralytic syndromes due to current spinal cord injury-code to spinal cord injury (S14, S24, S34)

About the condition

Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Your spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs down the middle of your back. It carries signals back and forth between your body and your brain. A spinal cord injury disrupts the signals. Spinal cord injuries usually begin with a blow that fractures (breaks) or dislocates your vertebrae, the bone disks that make up your spine. Most injuries don't cut through your spinal cord. Instead, they cause damage when pieces of vertebrae tear into cord tissue or press down on the nerve parts that carry signals.

Read more about spinal cord injuries on MedlinePlus

Code history

Valid since FY2016, when ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. No changes since.