2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S22Fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S20-S29›s

ICD-10-CM S22
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

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

ICD-10-CM Code
S22
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine
Short Description
Fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
S20-S29
Injuries to the thorax

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS20-S29Injuries to the thorax
CategorysFracture of rib, sternum and thoracic spine (S22)
This CodeS22Fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine

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 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 S22: its own notes plus those printed at block S20-S29 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.

On S22 itself
  • fracture of thoracic neural arch
  • fracture of thoracic spinous process
  • fracture of thoracic transverse process
  • fracture of thoracic vertebra
  • fracture of thoracic vertebral arch
From Block S20-S29 Injuries to the thorax applies to 1,602 codes
  • injuries of breast
  • injuries of chest (wall)
  • injuries of interscapular area

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • transection of thorax (S28.1)

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.

On S22 itself
From Block S20-S29 Injuries to the thorax applies to 1,602 codes
  • burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
  • effects of foreign body in bronchus (T17.5)
  • effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1)
  • effects of foreign body in lung (T17.8)
  • effects of foreign body in trachea (T17.4)
  • frostbite (T33-T34)
  • injuries of axilla
  • injuries of clavicle
  • injuries of scapular region
  • injuries of shoulder
  • insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes

Code First

The underlying condition named in the note is sequenced before this code.

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes
  • 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.

  • if applicable, any associated condition such as:
  • injury of intrathoracic organ (S27.-)
  • traumatic hemopneumothorax (S27.2)
  • traumatic hemothorax (S27.1-)
  • traumatic pneumothorax (S27.0)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

On S22 itself
  • 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
From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes
  • 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 S22
Values for category S22 Skull, Spine and Pelvis Fracture Encounter
  • Ainitial encounter for closed fracture
  • Binitial encounter for open fracture
  • Dsubsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
  • Gsubsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
  • Ksubsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
  • Ssequela

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name S22, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 3

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming S22: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • M48.5 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified
    traumatic fracture of vertebra (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-)
  • M84.3 Stress fracture
    traumatic fracture (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-, S42.-, S52.-, S62.-, S72.-, S82.-, S92.-)
  • M84.4 Pathological fracture, not elsewhere classified
    traumatic fracture (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-, S42.-, S52.-, S62.-, S72.-, S82.-, S92.-)

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

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About S22Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine?

S22 is the ICD-10-CM category for fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

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.

Can S22 be reported with S28.1?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on S22 lists "transection of thorax (S28.1)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

What is coded first with S22?

The Code First note reads: if applicable, spinal cord injury (S24.0-, S24.1-). When one of these applies, it is sequenced before S22.