2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S03.9XXSSprain of joints and ligaments of unspecified parts of head, sequela

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S00-S09›S03

ICD-10-CM S03.9XXS
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S03.9XXS is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for sprain of joints and ligaments of unspecified parts of head, sequela. The 7th character S marks it as a sequela code, which reports a problem that remains after the original condition has resolved. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 562 through 563. The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as dislocations, sprains and strains involving head with neck. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury, sequela.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S03.9XXS
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Sprain of joints and ligaments of unspecified parts of head, sequela
Short Description
Sprain of joints and ligaments of unsp parts of head, sqla
Parent Code
S03.9
Sprain of joints and ligaments of unspecified parts of head

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS00-S09Injuries to the head
CategoryS03Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of head
This CodeS03.9XXSSprain of joints and ligaments of unspecified parts of head, sequela

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

S03.9XXS is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review the other POA exempt codes in Injuries to the head (S00-S09).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Dislocations, sprains and strains involving head with neck
  • Dislocations, sprains and strains involving multiple body regions
  • Dislocations/sprains/strains

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of head (S03). Use the following options for the applicable episode of care:

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

Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2027, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to S03.9XXS: its own notes plus those printed at S03, block S00-S09, and Chapter 19. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From S03 Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of head applies to 36 codes
  • avulsion of joint (capsule) or ligament of head
  • laceration of cartilage, joint (capsule) or ligament of head
  • sprain of cartilage, joint (capsule) or ligament of head
  • traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament of head
  • traumatic rupture of joint or ligament of head
  • traumatic subluxation of joint or ligament of head
  • traumatic tear of joint or ligament of head
From Block S00-S09 Injuries to the head applies to 1,934 codes
  • injuries of ear
  • injuries of eye
  • injuries of face [any part]
  • injuries of gum
  • injuries of jaw
  • injuries of oral cavity
  • injuries of palate
  • injuries of periocular area
  • injuries of scalp
  • injuries of temporomandibular joint area
  • injuries of tongue
  • injuries of tooth

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From S03 Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of head applies to 36 codes
  • Strain of muscle or tendon of head (S09.1)
From Block S00-S09 Injuries to the head applies to 1,934 codes
  • burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
  • effects of foreign body in ear (T16)
  • effects of foreign body in larynx (T17.3)
  • effects of foreign body in mouth NOS (T18.0)
  • effects of foreign body in nose (T17.0-T17.1)
  • effects of foreign body in pharynx (T17.2)
  • effects of foreign body on external eye (T15.-)
  • frostbite (T33-T34)
  • insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes
  • code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)

Code Also

A second code may be needed to fully describe the condition; the note gives no sequencing direction.

From S03 Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of head applies to 36 codes
  • any associated open wound
From Block S00-S09 Injuries to the head applies to 1,934 codes
  • for any associated infection

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes
  • Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code
  • The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.

7th Character

Every code in the category takes a 7th character from the listed values, with the placeholder X filling any empty positions before it.

From S03 Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of head applies to 36 codes
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S03
Values for category S03 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter
  • Ssequela this code

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name S03.9XXS, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming S03.9XXS: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • S09.1 Injury of muscle and tendon of head
    sprain to joints and ligament of head (S03.9) names S03.9, which includes this code

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR INJ073
Injury, sequela
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Head Injuries

Chances are you've bumped your head before. Often, the injury is minor because your skull is hard and it protects your brain. But other head injuries can be more severe, such as a skull fracture, concussion, or traumatic brain injury.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert S03.9XXS to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
905.7 Late effec sprain/strain
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About S03.9XXSOverview

What is the ICD-10 code for sprain of joints and ligaments of unspecified parts of head, sequela?

The ICD-10-CM code for sprain of joints and ligaments of unspecified parts of head, sequela is S03.9XXS (sometimes written as S039XXS). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is S03.9XXS (Sprain of joints and ligaments of unspecified parts of head) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report sprain of joints and ligaments of unspecified parts of head, sequela on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What does the 7th character S in S03.9XXS mean?

The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the sprain of joints and ligaments of unspecified parts of head itself has resolved, not the original event.

What MS-DRG does S03.9XXS group to?

When sprain of joints and ligaments of unspecified parts of head, sequela is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 563, 562, with relative weights from 0.8982 to 1.3981 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is S03.9XXS exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for sprain of joints and ligaments of unspecified parts of head, sequela on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Injuries to the head (S00-S09) range of the CMS exempt list.