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  6. 2024 ICD-10-CM Code S44
Version 2024
Non-Billable Code

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S44

Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level

ICD-10-CM Code:
S44
ICD-10 Code for:
Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level
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)
      • Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level
        (S44)

S44 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level. 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 Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level

Non-specific codes like S44 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 injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level:

  • S44.0 for Injury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.00 for Injury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.01 for Injury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, right arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.02 for Injury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, left arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.1 for Injury of median nerve at upper arm level - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.10 for Injury of median nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.11 for Injury of median nerve at upper arm level, right arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.12 for Injury of median nerve at upper arm level, left arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.2 for Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.20 for Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.21 for Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, right arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.22 for Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, left arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.3 for Injury of axillary nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.30 for Injury of axillary nerve, unspecified arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.31 for Injury of axillary nerve, right arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.32 for Injury of axillary nerve, left arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.4 for Injury of musculocutaneous nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.40 for Injury of musculocutaneous nerve, unspecified arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.41 for Injury of musculocutaneous nerve, right arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.42 for Injury of musculocutaneous nerve, left arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.5 for Injury of cutaneous sensory nerve at shoulder and upper arm level - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.50 for Injury of cutaneous sensory nerve at shoulder and upper arm level, unspecified arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.51 for Injury of cutaneous sensory nerve at shoulder and upper arm level, right arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.52 for Injury of cutaneous sensory nerve at shoulder and upper arm level, left arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.8 for Injury of other nerves at shoulder and upper arm level - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.8X for Injury of other nerves at shoulder and upper arm level - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.9 for Injury of unspecified nerve at shoulder and upper arm level - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.90 for Injury of unspecified nerve at shoulder and upper arm level, unspecified arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.91 for Injury of unspecified nerve at shoulder and upper arm level, right arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S44.92 for Injury of unspecified nerve at shoulder and upper arm level, left arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

Coding Guidelines

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level (S44). 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.


Code Also

Code Also
A "code also" note instructs that two codes may be required to fully describe a condition, but this note does not provide sequencing direction.
  • any associated open wound S41

Type 2 Excludes

Type 2 Excludes
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
  • injury of brachial plexus S14.3

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 S44

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


Shoulder Injuries and Disorders

Your shoulder joint is composed of three bones: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the humerus (upper arm bone). Your shoulders are the most movable joints in your body. They can also be unstable because the ball of the upper arm is larger than the shoulder socket that holds it. To remain in a stable or normal position, the shoulder must be anchored by muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Because your shoulder can be unstable, it can be easily injured. Common problems include:

  • Sprains and strains
  • Dislocations
  • Separations
  • Tendinitis
  • Bursitis
  • Torn rotator cuffs
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Fractures (broken bones)
  • Arthritis

Health care providers diagnose shoulder problems by using your medical history, a physical exam, and imaging tests.

Often, the first treatment for shoulder problems is RICE. This stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Other treatments include exercise and medicines to reduce pain and swelling. If those don't work, you may need surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases


[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.