2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S12.9XXDFracture of neck, unspecified, subsequent encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S10-S19›S12

ICD-10-CM S12.9XXD
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S12.9XXD is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for fracture of neck, unspecified, subsequent encounter. The 7th character D marks it as a subsequent encounter code, used during routine care in the healing or recovery phase. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 559 through 561. The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Fracture of the spine and back, subsequent encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S12.9XXD
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Fracture of neck, unspecified, subsequent encounter
Short Description
Fracture of neck, unspecified, subsequent encounter
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
S12.9
Fracture of neck, unspecified

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 CodeS12.9XXDFracture of neck, unspecified, subsequent encounter

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

S12.9XXD is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review the other POA exempt codes in Injuries to the neck (S10-S19).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Anterior cord syndrome due to closed fracture of C1-C4 level
  • Anterior cord syndrome due to closed fracture of C5-C7 level
  • Anterior cord syndrome due to open fracture of C1-C4 level
  • Anterior cord syndrome due to open fracture of C5-C7 level
  • Burst fracture of cervical vertebra
  • Central cord syndrome due to open fracture at C5-C7 level
  • Central cord syndrome of cervical spinal cord due to closed fracture at C1-C4 level
  • Central cord syndrome of cervical spinal cord due to closed fracture at C5-C7 level
  • Central cord syndrome of cervical spinal cord due to traumatic injury
  • Central cord syndrome of cervical spinal cord. due to open fracture at C1-C4 level
  • Closed fracture cervical vertebra, burst
  • Closed fracture cervical vertebra, posterior arch
  • Closed fracture cervical vertebra, spinous process
  • Closed fracture cervical vertebra, spondylolysis
  • Closed fracture cervical vertebra, transverse process
  • Closed fracture cervical vertebra, wedge
  • Closed fracture of C1-C4 level with incomplete cord lesion
  • Closed fracture of C1-C4 level with spinal cord injury
  • Closed fracture of C5-C7 level with incomplete spinal cord lesion
  • Closed fracture of C5-C7 level with spinal cord injury
  • Closed fracture of cervical spine
  • Closed spinal fracture with anterior cervical cord lesion, C1-4
  • Closed spinal fracture with anterior cervical cord lesion, C5-7
  • Closed spinal fracture with complete cervical cord lesion, C1-4
  • Closed spinal fracture with complete cervical cord lesion, C5-7
  • Closed spinal fracture with posterior cervical cord lesion, C1-4
  • Closed spinal fracture with posterior cervical cord lesion, C5-7
  • Compression fracture of cervical spine
  • Crush fracture of cervical vertebra
  • Fracture dislocation of cervical spine
  • Fracture dislocation of cervicothoracic junction
  • Fracture dislocation of spine
  • Fracture of cervical spine
  • Fracture of cervical spine with cord lesion
  • Fracture of pedicle of cervical vertebra
  • Fracture of spinous process of cervical vertebra
  • Fracture of transverse process of cervical vertebra
  • Fractures involving head with neck
  • Injury of cervical spinal cord due to closed fracture of cervical spine
  • Injury of cervical spinal cord due to open fracture of cervical spine
  • Multiple closed fractures of cervical vertebrae
  • Multiple fractures of cervical spine
  • Multiple open fractures of cervical vertebrae
  • Open fracture cervical vertebra, burst
  • Open fracture cervical vertebra, posterior arch
  • Open fracture cervical vertebra, spinous process
  • Open fracture cervical vertebra, spondylolysis
  • Open fracture cervical vertebra, transverse process
  • Open fracture cervical vertebra, tricolumnar
  • Open fracture cervical vertebra, wedge
  • Open fracture of C1-C4 level with incomplete spinal cord lesion
  • Open fracture of C1-C4 level with spinal cord injury
  • Open fracture of C5-C7 level with incomplete spinal cord lesion
  • Open fracture of C5-C7 level with spinal cord injury
  • Open fracture of cervical spine
  • Open spinal fracture with central cervical cord lesion, C5-7
  • Open spinal fracture with complete cervical cord lesion, C1-4
  • Open spinal fracture with complete cervical cord lesion, C5-7
  • Open spinal fracture with posterior cervical cord lesion, C1-4
  • Open spinal fracture with posterior cervical cord lesion, C5-7
  • Posterior cord syndrome due to closed fracture of C1-C4 level
  • Posterior cord syndrome due to closed fracture of C5-C7 level
  • Posterior cord syndrome due to open fracture of C1-C4 level
  • Posterior cord syndrome due to open fracture of C5-C7 level
  • Spondylolysis of cervical spine
  • Structural abnormality of pedicle of vertebra
  • Teardrop fracture of cervical vertebra
  • Three column fracture of cervical vertebra
  • Traumatic anterior cord syndrome
  • Two column fracture of cervical vertebra
  • Wedge fracture of cervical vertebra
  • Wedge fracture of vertebra

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 S12.9XXD: its own notes plus those printed at S12.9, S12, 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.

From S12 Fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck applies to 420 codes
  • 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.

From S12 Fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck applies to 420 codes
  • 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.

From S12 Fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck applies to 420 codes
  • 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.

From S12.9 Fracture of neck, unspecified applies to 3 codes
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to code S12.9
From S12 Fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck applies to 420 codes
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from subcategories S12.0-S12.6
Values for category S12.9 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter this code
  • 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 S12.9XXD, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 3

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming S12.9XXD: 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.-) names S12.-, which includes this code
  • M84.3 Stress fracture
    traumatic fracture (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-, S42.-, S52.-, S62.-, S72.-, S82.-, S92.-) names S12.-, which includes this code
  • M84.4 Pathological fracture, not elsewhere classified
    traumatic fracture (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-, S42.-, S52.-, S62.-, S72.-, S82.-, S92.-) names S12.-, which includes this code

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming S12.9XXD: 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) names S12.-, which includes this code

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR INJ039
Fracture of the spine and back, subsequent encounter
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

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.

Convert S12.9XXD to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
V54.17 Aftrcre traum fx vertebr
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

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 S12.9XXDOverview

What is the ICD-10 code for fracture of neck, unspecified, subsequent encounter?

The ICD-10-CM code for fracture of neck, unspecified, subsequent encounter is S12.9XXD (sometimes written as S129XXD). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is S12.9XXD (Fracture of neck, unspecified) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report fracture of neck, unspecified, subsequent encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What does the 7th character D in S12.9XXD mean?

The final character D marks a subsequent encounter: use it for routine care while the fracture of neck, unspecified is healing, after active treatment has ended.

What MS-DRG does S12.9XXD group to?

When fracture of neck, unspecified, subsequent encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 559, 561, 560, with relative weights from 0.8258 to 1.8087 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is S12.9XXD exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for fracture of neck, unspecified, subsequent encounter on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Injuries to the neck (S10-S19) range of the CMS exempt list.