2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S13.4XXSSprain of ligaments of cervical spine, sequela
S13.4XXS is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for sprain of ligaments of cervical spine, sequela. The 7th character S marks it as a sequela code, which reports a problem that remains after the original condition has resolved. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 562 through 563. The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury, sequela.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
S13.4XXS 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.
- Acute cervical sprain
- Acute headache
- Acute headache due to whiplash injury
- Acute pain due to injury
- Acute posttraumatic headache
- Atlantoaxial joint sprain
- Cervical anterior longitudinal ligament sprain
- Cervical spine sprain
- Cervical vertigo
- Chronic pain following trauma
- Chronic pain following whiplash injury to neck
- Injury to ligament of cervical spine
- Neck pain co-occurrent with neck stiffness following whiplash injury to neck
- Neck pain co-occurrent with neurological deficit following whiplash injury to neck
- Neck pain co-occurrent with tenderness of neck following whiplash injury to neck
- Neck sprain
- Neurological deficit
- Pain provoked by trauma
- Posttraumatic headache
- Posttraumatic vertigo
- Sprain of spinal ligament
- Stiff neck
- Tenderness of neck
- Traumatic torticollis
- Whiplash injury to neck
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments at neck level (S13). 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 S13.4XXS: its own notes plus those printed at S13, 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.
- avulsion of joint or ligament at neck level
- laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament at neck level
- sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament at neck level
- traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament at neck level
- traumatic rupture of joint or ligament at neck level
- traumatic subluxation of joint or ligament at neck level
- traumatic tear of joint or ligament at neck level
- 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.
- strain of muscle or tendon at neck level (S16.1)
Use Additional Code
Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.
- 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.
- any associated open wound
Notes
General instructions on how these codes are used.
- 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 S13
- Ainitial encounter
- Dsubsequent encounter
- Ssequela this code
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.
Referenced in Other NotesGuidance
Instructional notes printed at other codes that name S13.4XXS, its category, or a range that includes it.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Clinical InformationClinical
Whiplash Injuries
hyperextension injury to the neck, often the result of being struck from behind by a fast-moving vehicle, in an automobile accident. (from segen, the dictionary of modern medicine, 1992)
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.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert S13.4XXS to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S13.4XXSOverview
What is the ICD-10 code for sprain of ligaments of cervical spine, sequela?
The ICD-10-CM code for sprain of ligaments of cervical spine, sequela is S13.4XXS (sometimes written as S134XXS). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is S13.4XXS (Sprain of ligaments of cervical spine) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report sprain of ligaments of cervical spine, sequela on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What does the 7th character S in S13.4XXS mean?
The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the sprain of ligaments of cervical spine itself has resolved, not the original event.
What MS-DRG does S13.4XXS group to?
When sprain of ligaments of cervical spine, sequela is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 563, 562, with relative weights from 0.8982 to 1.3981 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is S13.4XXS 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 sprain of ligaments of cervical spine, sequela on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Injuries to the neck (S10-S19) range of the CMS exempt list.
