2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S20.4

Other and unspecified superficial injuries of back wall of thorax

ICD-10-CM Code:
S20.4
ICD-10 Code for:
Other and unsp superficial injuries of back wall of thorax
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
    (S00–T88)
    • Injuries to the thorax
      (S20-S29)
      • Superficial injury of thorax
        (S20)

S20.4 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of other and unspecified superficial injuries of back wall of thorax. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like S20.4 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Specific Coding Applicable to Other and unsp superficial injuries of back wall of thorax

Non-specific codes like S20.4 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for other and unsp superficial injuries of back wall of thorax:

  • S20.40 for Unspecified superficial injuries of back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.401 for Unspecified superficial injuries of right back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.401A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.401D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.401S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.402 for Unspecified superficial injuries of left back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.402A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.402D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.402S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.409 for Unspecified superficial injuries of unspecified back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.409A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.409D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.409S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.41 for Abrasion of back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.411 for Abrasion of right back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.411A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.411D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.411S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.412 for Abrasion of left back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.412A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.412D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.412S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.419 for Abrasion of unspecified back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.419A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.419D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.419S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.42 for Blister (nonthermal) of back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.421 for Blister (nonthermal) of right back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.421A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.421D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.421S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.422 for Blister (nonthermal) of left back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.422A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.422D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.422S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.429 for Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.429A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.429D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.429S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.44 for External constriction of back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.441 for External constriction of right back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.441A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.441D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.441S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.442 for External constriction of left back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.442A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.442D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.442S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.449 for External constriction of unspecified back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.449A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.449D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.449S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.45 for Superficial foreign body of back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.451 for Superficial foreign body of right back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.451A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.451D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.451S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.452 for Superficial foreign body of left back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.452A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.452D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.452S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.459 for Superficial foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.459A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.459D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.459S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.46 for Insect bite (nonvenomous) of back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.461 for Insect bite (nonvenomous) of right back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.461A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.461D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.461S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.462 for Insect bite (nonvenomous) of left back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.462A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.462D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.462S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.469 for Insect bite (nonvenomous) of unspecified back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.469A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.469D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.469S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.47 for Other superficial bite of back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.471 for Other superficial bite of right back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.471A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.471D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.471S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.472 for Other superficial bite of left back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.472A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.472D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.472S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S20.479 for Other superficial bite of unspecified back wall of thorax - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.479A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.479D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S20.479S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

Coding Guidelines

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Superficial injury of thorax (S20). Use the following options for the aplicable episode of care:

  • A - initial encounter
  • D - subsequent encounter
  • S - sequela

Patient Education


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.

Wounds are injuries that break the skin or other body tissues. They include cuts, scrapes, scratches, and punctured skin. They often happen because of an accident, but surgery, sutures, and stitches also cause wounds. Minor wounds usually aren't serious, but it is important to clean them. Serious and infected wounds may require first aid followed by a visit to your doctor. You should also seek attention if the wound is deep, you cannot close it yourself, you cannot stop the bleeding or get the dirt out, or it does not heal.

Other common types of injuries include:

  • Animal bites
  • Bruises
  • Burns
  • Dislocations
  • Electrical injuries
  • Fractures (broken bones)
  • Sprains and strains

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.