2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S14.159DOther incomplete lesion at unspecified level of cervical spinal cord, subsequent encounter
S14.159D is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other incomplete lesion at unspecified level of cervical spinal cord, 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 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 949 through 950. The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Spinal cord injury (SCI), subsequent encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
S14.159D 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.
- 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 spinal fracture with anterior 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
- Contusion of cervical cord
- Contusion of cervical vertebral column region
- Contusion of neck
- Contusion of spinal cord
- Incomplete cord syndrome of cervical spinal cord
- Incomplete spinal cord lesion at C5-C7 level without bone injury
- Injury at C5-C7 level with spinal cord injury AND without bone injury
- Injury of cervical spinal cord due to closed fracture of cervical spine
- Laceration of cervical cord
- Laceration of spinal cord
- Open fracture of C1-C4 level with incomplete spinal cord lesion
- Open fracture of C1-C4 level with spinal cord injury
- Open spinal fracture with posterior cervical cord lesion, C1-4
- Posterior cervical spinal cord injury without spinal bone injury, 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 of cervical spinal cord
- Posterior cord syndrome of cervical spinal cord due to open dislocation of cervical spine
- Posterior cord syndrome of cervical spinal cord due to open subluxation of cervical spine
- Posterior cord syndrome of cervical spine due to closed dislocation of cervical spine
- Posterior cord syndrome of cervical spine due to closed subluxation of cervical spine
- Spinal subluxation with cervical cord lesion
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Injury of nerves and spinal cord at neck level (S14). 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.
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 S14.159D to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S14.159DOverview
Is S14.159D a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other incomplete lesion at unspecified level of cervical spinal cord, subsequent encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character D in S14.159D mean?
The final character D marks a subsequent encounter: use it for routine care while the other incomplete lesion at unspecified level of cervical spinal cord is healing, after active treatment has ended.
What MS-DRG does S14.159D group to?
When other incomplete lesion at unspecified level of cervical spinal cord, subsequent encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 949, 950, with relative weights from 0.6277 to 1.1897 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is S14.159D 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 other incomplete lesion at unspecified level of cervical spinal cord, subsequent encounter on inpatient claims.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S14.159D?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other incomplete lesion at unspecified level of cervical spinal cord, subsequent encounter converts to ICD-9-CM V58.89 (other specfied aftercare). 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.
