Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S40

Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm

ICD-10-CM Code:
S40
ICD-10 Code for:
Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
    (S00–T88)
    • Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm
      (S40-S49)
      • Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm
        (S40)

S40 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm. 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.

Specific Coding Applicable to Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm

Non-specific codes like S40 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 superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm:

  • S40.0 for Contusion of shoulder and upper arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.01 for Contusion of shoulder - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.02 for Contusion of upper arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.2 for Other superficial injuries of shoulder - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.21 for Abrasion of shoulder - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.22 for Blister (nonthermal) of shoulder - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.24 for External constriction of shoulder - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.25 for Superficial foreign body of shoulder - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.26 for Insect bite (nonvenomous) of shoulder - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.27 for Other superficial bite of shoulder - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.8 for Other superficial injuries of upper arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.81 for Abrasion of upper arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.82 for Blister (nonthermal) of upper arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.84 for External constriction of upper arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.85 for Superficial foreign body of upper arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.86 for Insect bite (nonvenomous) of upper arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.87 for Other superficial bite of upper arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.9 for Unspecified superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.91 for Unspecified superficial injury of shoulder - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S40.92 for Unspecified superficial injury of upper arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

Coding Guidelines

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm (S40). Use the following options for the aplicable episode of care:

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

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


7th Character Note

7th Character Note
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S40

7th Character

7th Character
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
  • 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.