2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S22.050KWedge compression fracture of T5-T6 vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S20-S29›s
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- CC — Complication or Comorbidity
- POA Exempt
- 7th Character K — Subsequent, Nonunion
- Not Chronic
S22.050K is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for wedge compression fracture of T5-T6 vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion. The 7th character K means subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 564 through 566. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) and moves an inpatient stay to a higher severity level within its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 5,561 closely related codes. The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Fracture of the spine and back, subsequent encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
S22.050K is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review the other POA exempt codes in Injuries to the thorax (S20-S29).
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 S22.050K: its own notes plus those printed at S22, 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.
- fracture of thoracic neural arch
- fracture of thoracic spinous process
- fracture of thoracic transverse process
- fracture of thoracic vertebra
- fracture of thoracic vertebral arch
- 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.
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.
- 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)
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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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 this code
- 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 S22.050K, its category, or a range that includes it.
Excludes1 4
These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming S22.050K: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
- M48.4 Fatigue fracture of vertebratraumatic fracture of vertebrae (S12.0-S12.3-, S22.0-, S32.0-) names S22.0-, which includes this code
- M48.5 Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classifiedtraumatic fracture of vertebra (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-) names S22.-, which includes this code
- M84.3 Stress fracturetraumatic fracture (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-, S42.-, S52.-, S62.-, S72.-, S82.-, S92.-) names S22.-, which includes this code
- M84.4 Pathological fracture, not elsewhere classifiedtraumatic fracture (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-, S42.-, S52.-, S62.-, S72.-, S82.-, S92.-) names S22.-, which includes this code
Excludes2 1
These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming S22.050K: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.
Use Additional Code 1
These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and S22.050K is one of the codes named.
Code Also 2
These codes say S22.050K may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Fractures
A fracture is a break in a bone. Fractures are usually caused by injuries. Since they can sometimes be serious, it's important to get medical care right away if you think you have a fracture.
The full article covers:
- What is a fracture?
- What are the different types of fractures?
- What causes fractures?
- What are the symptoms of a fracture?
- How are fractures diagnosed?
- What are the treatments for fractures?
- Can fractures be prevented?
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert S22.050K to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S22.050KOverview
Is S22.050K (Wedge compression fracture of T5-T6 vertebra) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report wedge compression fracture of T5-T6 vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What does the 7th character K in S22.050K mean?
The final character K reports a subsequent encounter where the wedge compression fracture of T5-T6 vertebra has failed to heal, called a nonunion. In this category the CMS Tabular List defines K as "subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion".
What MS-DRG does S22.050K group to?
When wedge compression fracture of T5-T6 vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 564, 566, 565, with relative weights from 0.7374 to 1.4909 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is S22.050K a CC or MCC?
CMS lists S22.050K as a CC (complication or comorbidity) for FY 2027. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it moves the inpatient stay to a higher-weighted DRG within its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 5,561 closely related codes in its exclusion list.
Is S22.050K 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 wedge compression fracture of T5-T6 vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Injuries to the thorax (S20-S29) range of the CMS exempt list.
