2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S10.90XAUnspecified superficial injury of unspecified part of neck, initial encounter
S10.90XA is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified superficial injury of unspecified part of neck, initial encounter. The 7th character A marks it as an initial encounter code, used while the patient is receiving active treatment. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 604 through 605, 963 through 965. Coders also document this condition as Fiddler's neck. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Superficial injury; contusion, initial encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Fiddler's neck
- Multiple injuries of neck
- Multiple superficial injuries of neck
- Superficial injury of head and neck
- Superficial injury of neck
- Superficial injury of neck with infection
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Superficial injury of neck (S10). 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 2026, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Neck Injuries and Disorders
Any part of your neck - muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, or nerves - can cause neck problems. Neck pain is very common. Pain may also come from your shoulder, jaw, head, or upper arms.
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Convert S10.90XA to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S10.90XAOverview
Is S10.90XA (Unspecified superficial injury of unspecified part of neck) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified superficial injury of unspecified part of neck, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character A in S10.90XA mean?
The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for unspecified superficial injury of unspecified part of neck, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.
What MS-DRG does S10.90XA group to?
When unspecified superficial injury of unspecified part of neck, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 604, 605, 963, 964, 965, with relative weights from 0.9160 to 2.7338 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S10.90XA?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unspecified superficial injury of unspecified part of neck, initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 910.8 (superfic inj head NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
Footnotes
[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.
