2026 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 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

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 2026, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Includes

  • 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

Code First

  • any associated cervical spinal cord injury S14.0 S14.1

7th Character Note

  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from subcategories S12.0 S12.6

7th Character

  • A - initial encounter for closed fracture
  • B - initial encounter for open fracture
  • D - subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
  • G - subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
  • K - subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
  • S - sequela

  • 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

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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About S12Overview

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.