2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S06Intracranial injury

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S00-S09›S06

ICD-10-CM S06
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S06 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for intracranial injury, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as S06.0X0A, S06.0X0D, S06.0X0S, and S06.0X1A.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S06
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Intracranial injury
Short Description
Intracranial injury
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
S00-S09
Injuries to the head

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS00-S09Injuries to the head
CategoryS06Intracranial injury
This CodeS06Intracranial injury

Specific Coding for Intracranial injuryOverview

Non-specific codes like S06 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • S06.0 for Concussion

  • S06.0X for Concussion

  • S06.1 for Traumatic cerebral edema

  • S06.1X for Traumatic cerebral edema

  • S06.2 for Diffuse traumatic brain injury

  • S06.2X for Diffuse traumatic brain injury

  • S06.3 for Focal traumatic brain injury

  • S06.30 for Unspecified focal traumatic brain injury

  • S06.31 for Contusion and laceration of right cerebrum

  • S06.32 for Contusion and laceration of left cerebrum

  • S06.33 for Contusion and laceration of cerebrum, unspecified

  • S06.34 for Traumatic hemorrhage of right cerebrum

  • S06.35 for Traumatic hemorrhage of left cerebrum

  • S06.36 for Traumatic hemorrhage of cerebrum, unspecified

  • S06.37 for Contusion, laceration, and hemorrhage of cerebellum

  • S06.38 for Contusion, laceration, and hemorrhage of brainstem

  • S06.4 for Epidural hemorrhage

  • S06.4X for Epidural hemorrhage

  • S06.5 for Traumatic subdural hemorrhage

  • S06.5X for Traumatic subdural hemorrhage

  • S06.6 for Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage

  • S06.6X for Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage

  • S06.8 for Other specified intracranial injuries

  • S06.81 for Injury of right internal carotid artery, intracranial portion, not elsewhere classified

  • S06.82 for Injury of left internal carotid artery, intracranial portion, not elsewhere classified

  • S06.89 for Other specified intracranial injury

  • S06.8A for Primary blast injury of brain, not elsewhere classified

  • S06.9 for Unspecified intracranial injury

  • S06.9X for Unspecified intracranial injury

  • S06.A for Traumatic brain compression and herniation

  • S06.A0 for Traumatic brain compression without herniation

  • S06.A1 for Traumatic brain compression with herniation

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Intracranial injury (S06). 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 S06: its own notes plus those printed at 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.

On S06 itself
  • traumatic brain injury
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

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

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 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.

On S06 itself
  • code, if applicable, to identify mild neurocognitive disorders due to known physiological condition (F06.7-)
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.

On S06 itself
  • any associated:
  • open wound of head (S01.-)
  • skull fracture (S02.-)
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.

On S06 itself
  • 7th characters D and S do not apply to codes in category S06 with 6th character 7 - death due to brain injury prior to regaining consciousness, or 8 - death due to other cause prior to regaining consciousness.
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.

  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S06, except as noted below
Values for category S06 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter
  • Ssequela

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name S06, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 7

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming S06: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • G31.84 Mild cognitive impairment of uncertain or unknown etiology
    cognitive impairment due to intracranial or head injury (S06.-)
  • Block I60-I69 Cerebrovascular diseases
    traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (S06.-)
  • I69 Sequelae of cerebrovascular disease
    sequelae of traumatic intracranial injury (S06.-)
  • I69.8 Sequelae of other cerebrovascular diseases
    sequelae of traumatic intracranial injury (S06.-)
  • I69.9 Sequelae of unspecified cerebrovascular diseases
    sequelae of traumatic intracranial injury (S06.-)
  • P52 Intracranial nontraumatic hemorrhage of newborn
    intracranial hemorrhage due to other injury (S06.-)
  • S09.0 Injury of blood vessels of head, not elsewhere classified
    injury of cerebral blood vessels (S06.-)

Code First 5

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and S06 is one of the conditions named.

  • F02 Dementia in other diseases classified elsewhere
    traumatic brain injury (S06.-)
  • F06.7 Mild neurocognitive disorder due to known physiological condition
    traumatic brain injury (S06.-)
  • F48.2 Pseudobulbar affect
    sequelae of traumatic intracranial injury (S06.-)
  • R40.2 Coma
    intracranial injury (S06.-)
  • S04 Injury of cranial nerve
    any associated intracranial injury (S06.-)

Use Additional Code 1

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and S06 is one of the codes named.

  • S07 Crushing injury of head
    intracranial injuries (S06.-)

Code Also 2

These codes say S06 may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • S01 Open wound of head
    intracranial injury (S06.-)
  • S02 Fracture of skull and facial bones
    any associated intracranial injury (S06.-)

Patient EducationClinical

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a sudden injury that causes damage to the brain. It may happen when there is a blow, bump, or jolt to the head. This is a closed head injury. A TBI can also happen when an object penetrates the skull. This is a penetrating injury.

The full article covers:

  • What is traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
  • What causes traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
  • Who is at risk for traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
  • What are the symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
  • How is traumatic brain injury (TBI) diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
  • Can traumatic brain injury (TBI) be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

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 S06Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for intracranial injury?

S06 is the ICD-10-CM category for intracranial injury, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is S06 (Intracranial injury) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for intracranial injury, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for intracranial injury need a more specific code from this category, such as S06.0X0A, S06.0X0D, and S06.0X0S.

Can S06 be reported with S09.90?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on S06 lists "head injury NOS (S09.90)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Does S06 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code, if applicable, to identify mild neurocognitive disorders due to known physiological condition (F06.7-). The additional code is reported after S06.