2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S16.1XXSStrain of muscle, fascia and tendon at neck level, sequela
S16.1XXS is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for strain of muscle, fascia and tendon at neck level, 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. Coders also document this condition as dislocations, sprains and strains involving head with neck. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury, sequela.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
S16.1XXS 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.
- Dislocations, sprains and strains involving head with neck
- Dislocations, sprains and strains involving multiple body regions
- Dislocations/sprains/strains
- Injury of tendon of neck
- Kinematic imbalance due to suboccipital strain
- Rupture of tendon of head and neck
- Strain of fascia of neck
- Strain of neck muscle
- Strain of tendon of head and neck
- Strain of tendon of neck
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Injury of muscle, fascia and tendon at neck level (S16). 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 S16.1XXS: its own notes plus those printed at S16, 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.
- 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.
- sprain of joint or ligament at neck level (S13.9)
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.
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 S16
- 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 S16.1XXS, its category, or a range that includes it.
Excludes2 1
These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming S16.1XXS: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.
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 S16.1XXS to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S16.1XXSOverview
What is the ICD-10 code for strain of muscle, fascia and tendon at neck level, sequela?
The ICD-10-CM code for strain of muscle, fascia and tendon at neck level, sequela is S16.1XXS (sometimes written as S161XXS). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is S16.1XXS (Strain of muscle, fascia and tendon at neck level) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report strain of muscle, fascia and tendon at neck level, sequela on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What does the 7th character S in S16.1XXS mean?
The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the strain of muscle, fascia and tendon at neck level itself has resolved, not the original event.
What MS-DRG does S16.1XXS group to?
When strain of muscle, fascia and tendon at neck level, 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 S16.1XXS 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 strain of muscle, fascia and tendon at neck level, sequela on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Injuries to the neck (S10-S19) range of the CMS exempt list.
