2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S22Fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine
S22 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as S22.000A, S22.000B, S22.000D, and S22.000G.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Specific Coding for Fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spineOverview
Non-specific codes like S22 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:
S22.0 for Fracture of thoracic vertebra
S22.00 for Fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra
S22.01 for Fracture of first thoracic vertebra
S22.02 for Fracture of second thoracic vertebra
S22.03 for Fracture of third thoracic vertebra
S22.04 for Fracture of fourth thoracic vertebra
S22.05 for Fracture of T5-T6 vertebra
S22.06 for Fracture of T7-T8 vertebra
S22.07 for Fracture of T9-T10 vertebra
S22.08 for Fracture of T11-T12 vertebra
S22.2 for Fracture of sternum
S22.20 for Unspecified fracture of sternum
S22.21 for Fracture of manubrium
S22.22 for Fracture of body of sternum
S22.23 for Sternal manubrial dissociation
S22.24 for Fracture of xiphoid process
S22.3 for Fracture of one rib
S22.31 for Fracture of one rib, right side
S22.32 for Fracture of one rib, left side
S22.39 for Fracture of one rib, unspecified side
S22.4 for Multiple fractures of ribs
S22.41 for Multiple fractures of ribs, right side
S22.42 for Multiple fractures of ribs, left side
S22.43 for Multiple fractures of ribs, bilateral
S22.49 for Multiple fractures of ribs, unspecified side
S22.5 for Flail chest
S22.9 for Fracture of bony thorax, part unspecified
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 2026, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Includes
- fracture of thoracic neural arch
- fracture of thoracic spinous process
- fracture of thoracic transverse process
- fracture of thoracic vertebra
- fracture of thoracic vertebral arch
Code Also
- , if applicable, any associated condition such as:
- injury of intrathoracic organ S27
- spinal cord injury S24.0 S24.1
- traumatic hemopneumothorax S27.2
- traumatic hemothorax S27.1
- traumatic pneumothorax S27.0
Type 1 Excludes
- transection of thorax S28.1
Type 2 Excludes
7th Character Note
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S22
7th Character
- A - initial encounter for closed fracture
- B - initial encounter for open fracture
- D - subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- G - subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- K - subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- S - sequela
- 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
This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.
A "code also" note instructs that two codes may be required to fully describe a condition, but this note does not provide sequencing direction.
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
Patient EducationClinical
Chest Injuries and Disorders
The chest is the part of your body between your neck and your abdomen (belly). The medical term for your chest is thorax.
The full article covers:
- What is the chest?
- What are chest injuries and disorders?
- How are chest injuries and disorders diagnosed?
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S22Overview
Is S22 (Fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine) a billable code?
No. This is a category header that groups the codes for fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine need a more specific code from this category, such as S22.000A, S22.000B, and S22.000D.
