2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S12Fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S10-S19›S12

ICD-10-CM S12
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S12 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as S12.000A, S12.000B, S12.000D, and S12.000G.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S12
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck
Short Description
Fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
S10-S19
Injuries to the neck

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS10-S19Injuries to the neck
CategoryS12Fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck
This CodeS12Fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck

Specific Coding for Fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neckOverview

Non-specific codes like S12 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • S12.0 for Fracture of first cervical vertebra

  • S12.00 for Unspecified fracture of first cervical vertebra

  • S12.01 for Stable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra

  • S12.02 for Unstable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra

  • S12.03 for Posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra

  • S12.04 for Lateral mass fracture of first cervical vertebra

  • S12.09 for Other fracture of first cervical vertebra

  • S12.1 for Fracture of second cervical vertebra

  • S12.10 for Unspecified fracture of second cervical vertebra

  • S12.11 for Type II dens fracture

  • S12.12 for Other dens fracture

  • S12.13 for Unspecified traumatic spondylolisthesis of second cervical vertebra

  • S12.14 for Type III traumatic spondylolisthesis of second cervical vertebra

  • S12.15 for Other traumatic spondylolisthesis of second cervical vertebra

  • S12.19 for Other fracture of second cervical vertebra

  • S12.2 for Fracture of third cervical vertebra

  • S12.20 for Unspecified fracture of third cervical vertebra

  • S12.23 for Unspecified traumatic spondylolisthesis of third cervical vertebra

  • S12.24 for Type III traumatic spondylolisthesis of third cervical vertebra

  • S12.25 for Other traumatic spondylolisthesis of third cervical vertebra

  • S12.29 for Other fracture of third cervical vertebra

  • S12.3 for Fracture of fourth cervical vertebra

  • S12.30 for Unspecified fracture of fourth cervical vertebra

  • S12.33 for Unspecified traumatic spondylolisthesis of fourth cervical vertebra

  • S12.34 for Type III traumatic spondylolisthesis of fourth cervical vertebra

  • S12.35 for Other traumatic spondylolisthesis of fourth cervical vertebra

  • S12.39 for Other fracture of fourth cervical vertebra

  • S12.4 for Fracture of fifth cervical vertebra

  • S12.40 for Unspecified fracture of fifth cervical vertebra

  • S12.43 for Unspecified traumatic spondylolisthesis of fifth cervical vertebra

  • S12.44 for Type III traumatic spondylolisthesis of fifth cervical vertebra

  • S12.45 for Other traumatic spondylolisthesis of fifth cervical vertebra

  • S12.49 for Other fracture of fifth cervical vertebra

  • S12.5 for Fracture of sixth cervical vertebra

  • S12.50 for Unspecified fracture of sixth cervical vertebra

  • S12.53 for Unspecified traumatic spondylolisthesis of sixth cervical vertebra

  • S12.54 for Type III traumatic spondylolisthesis of sixth cervical vertebra

  • S12.55 for Other traumatic spondylolisthesis of sixth cervical vertebra

  • S12.59 for Other fracture of sixth cervical vertebra

  • S12.6 for Fracture of seventh cervical vertebra

  • S12.60 for Unspecified fracture of seventh cervical vertebra

  • S12.63 for Unspecified traumatic spondylolisthesis of seventh cervical vertebra

  • S12.64 for Type III traumatic spondylolisthesis of seventh cervical vertebra

  • S12.65 for Other traumatic spondylolisthesis of seventh cervical vertebra

  • S12.69 for Other fracture of seventh cervical vertebra

  • S12.8 for Fracture of other parts of neck

  • S12.9 for Fracture of neck, unspecified

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The principles of multiple coding of injuries should be followed in coding fractures. Fractures of specified sites are coded individually by site, to the level of detail furnished by medical record content.

A fracture not indicated as open or closed should be coded to closed. A fracture not indicated whether displaced or not displaced should be coded to displaced.

Initial vs. Subsequent Encounter for Fractures

Traumatic fractures are coded using the appropriate 7th character for initial encounter (A, B, C) while the patient is receiving active treatment for the fracture. The appropriate 7th character for initial encounter should also be assigned for a patient who delayed seeking treatment for the fracture or nonunion.

Fractures are coded using the appropriate 7th character for subsequent care for encounters after the patient has completed active treatment of the fracture and is receiving routine care for the fracture during the healing or recovery phase.

Care for complications of surgical treatment for fracture repairs during the healing or recovery phase should be coded with the appropriate complication codes.

Care of complications of fractures, such as malunion and nonunion, should be reported with the appropriate 7th character for subsequent care with nonunion (K, M, N) or subsequent care with malunion (P, Q, R).

The open fracture designations in the assignment of the 7th character for fractures of the forearm, femur and lower leg, including ankle are based on the Gustilo open fracture classification. When the Gustilo classification type is not specified for an open fracture, the 7th character for open fracture type I or II should be assigned (B, E, H, M, Q).

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 S12: its own notes plus those printed at block S10-S19 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 S12 itself
  • fracture of cervical neural arch
  • fracture of cervical spine
  • fracture of cervical spinous process
  • fracture of cervical transverse process
  • fracture of cervical vertebral arch
  • fracture of neck
From Block S10-S19 Injuries to the neck applies to 1,074 codes
  • injuries of nape
  • injuries of supraclavicular region
  • injuries of throat

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 S10-S19 Injuries to the neck applies to 1,074 codes
  • burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
  • effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1)
  • effects of foreign body in larynx (T17.3)
  • effects of foreign body in pharynx (T17.2)
  • effects of foreign body in trachea (T17.4)
  • 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

Code First

The underlying condition named in the note is sequenced before this code.

  • any associated cervical spinal cord injury (S14.0, S14.1-)

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.-)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

On S12 itself
  • A fracture not indicated as displaced or nondisplaced should be coded to displaced
  • A fracture not indicated as open or closed should be coded to closed
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 all codes from subcategories S12.0-S12.6
Values for category S12 Skull, Spine and Pelvis Fracture Encounter
  • Ainitial encounter for closed fracture
  • Binitial encounter for open fracture
  • Dsubsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
  • Gsubsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
  • Ksubsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
  • 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 S12, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 3

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming S12: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • M48.5 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified
    traumatic fracture of vertebra (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-)
  • M84.3 Stress fracture
    traumatic fracture (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-, S42.-, S52.-, S62.-, S72.-, S82.-, S92.-)
  • M84.4 Pathological fracture, not elsewhere classified
    traumatic fracture (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-, S42.-, S52.-, S62.-, S72.-, S82.-, S92.-)

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming S12: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • S11 Open wound of neck
    open fracture of vertebra (S12.- with 7th character B)

Patient EducationClinical

Fractures

A fracture is a break in a bone. Fractures are usually caused by injuries. Since they can sometimes be serious, it's important to get medical care right away if you think you have a fracture.

The full article covers:

  • What is a fracture?
  • What are the different types of fractures?
  • What causes fractures?
  • What are the symptoms of a fracture?
  • How are fractures diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for fractures?
  • Can fractures 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 S12Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck?

S12 is the ICD-10-CM category for fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is S12 (Fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck need a more specific code from this category, such as S12.000A, S12.000B, and S12.000D.

What is coded first with S12?

The Code First note reads: any associated cervical spinal cord injury (S14.0, S14.1-). When one of these applies, it is sequenced before S12.