2026 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 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) 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 other POA exempt codes.
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 of muscle of 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
- Whiplash shaken infant syndrome
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 2026, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Clinical InformationClinical
Neck Sprain
stretching or tearing of ligaments in the neck.
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
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, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
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 562, 563, with relative weights from 0.8955 to 1.4248 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.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S13.4XXS?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, sprain of ligaments of cervical spine, sequela converts to ICD-9-CM 905.7 (late effec sprain/strain). 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.
