Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S04

Injury of cranial nerve

ICD-10-CM Code:
S04
ICD-10 Code for:
Injury of cranial nerve
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
    (S00–T88)
    • Injuries to the head
      (S00-S09)
      • Injury of cranial nerve
        (S04)

S04 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 cranial nerve. 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 cranial nerve

Non-specific codes like S04 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 cranial nerve:

  • S04.0 for Injury of optic nerve and pathways - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.01 for Injury of optic nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.02 for Injury of optic chiasm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.03 for Injury of optic tract and pathways - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.04 for Injury of visual cortex - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.1 for Injury of oculomotor nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.10 for Injury of oculomotor nerve, unspecified side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.11 for Injury of oculomotor nerve, right side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.12 for Injury of oculomotor nerve, left side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.2 for Injury of trochlear nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.20 for Injury of trochlear nerve, unspecified side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.21 for Injury of trochlear nerve, right side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.22 for Injury of trochlear nerve, left side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.3 for Injury of trigeminal nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.30 for Injury of trigeminal nerve, unspecified side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.31 for Injury of trigeminal nerve, right side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.32 for Injury of trigeminal nerve, left side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.4 for Injury of abducent nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.40 for Injury of abducent nerve, unspecified side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.41 for Injury of abducent nerve, right side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.42 for Injury of abducent nerve, left side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.5 for Injury of facial nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.50 for Injury of facial nerve, unspecified side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.51 for Injury of facial nerve, right side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.52 for Injury of facial nerve, left side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.6 for Injury of acoustic nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.60 for Injury of acoustic nerve, unspecified side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.61 for Injury of acoustic nerve, right side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.62 for Injury of acoustic nerve, left side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.7 for Injury of accessory nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.70 for Injury of accessory nerve, unspecified side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.71 for Injury of accessory nerve, right side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.72 for Injury of accessory nerve, left side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.8 for Injury of other cranial nerves - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.81 for Injury of olfactory [1st ] nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.89 for Injury of other cranial nerves - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S04.9 for Injury of unspecified cranial nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

Coding Guidelines

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Injury of cranial nerve (S04). 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.


Inclusion Terms

Inclusion Terms
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
  • The selection of side should be based on the side of the body being affected

Code First

Code First
Certain conditions have both an underlying etiology and multiple body system manifestations due to the underlying etiology. For such conditions, the ICD-10-CM has a coding convention that requires the underlying condition be sequenced first followed by the manifestation. Wherever such a combination exists, there is a "use additional code" note at the etiology code, and a "code first" note at the manifestation code. These instructional notes indicate the proper sequencing order of the codes, etiology followed by manifestation.
  • any associated intracranial injury S06

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 of head S01
  • skull fracture S02

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 S04

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

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.