2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S22.49XAMultiple fractures of ribs, unspecified side, initial encounter for closed fracture
S22.49XA is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for multiple fractures of ribs, unspecified side, initial encounter for closed fracture. The 7th character A marks it as an initial encounter code, used while the patient is receiving active treatment. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 183 through 185, 963 through 965. The code is flagged as an unspecified code, since codes identifying laterality exist in the same family. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Fracture of torso, initial encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Code EditsBilling
Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for S22.49XA.
Quality Payment Program MeasuresBilling
Medicare quality measures that can apply when S22.49XA is part of the patient record.
Communication with the Physician or Other Clinician Managing On-Going Care Post-Fracture for Men and Women Aged 50 Years and Older
High Priority: YES
Measure Type: Process
Submission Methods: Claims, Registry
Description: Percentage of patients aged 50 years and older treated for a fracture with documentation of communication, between the physician treating the fracture and the physician or other clinician managing the patient's on-going care, that a fracture occurred and that the patient was or should be considered for osteoporosis treatment or testing. This measure is submitted by the physician who treats the fracture and who therefore is held accountable for the communication.
Osteoporosis Management in Women Who Had a Fracture
High Priority: NO
Measure Type: Process
Submission Methods: Claims, Registry
Description: The percentage of women 50-85 years of age who suffered a fracture and who had either a bone mineral density (BMD) test or prescription for a drug to treat osteoporosis in the six months after the fracture.
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Closed fracture of eight OR more ribs
- Closed fracture of five ribs
- Closed fracture of four ribs
- Closed fracture of multiple ribs
- Closed fracture of seven ribs
- Closed fracture of six ribs
- Closed fracture of three ribs
- Closed fracture of two ribs
- Closed multiple fractures of lower limb AND ribs
- Closed multiple fractures of upper limb with ribs
- Cough fracture of ribs
- Fracture of eight OR more ribs
- Fracture of five ribs
- Fracture of four ribs
- Fracture of multiple ribs
- Fracture of seven ribs
- Fracture of six ribs
- Fracture of three ribs
- Fracture of two ribs
- Multiple fractures of lower limb AND ribs
- Multiple fractures of lower limb AND sternum
- Multiple fractures of lower limb with ribs AND sternum
- Multiple fractures of upper limb with ribs
- Multiple fractures of upper limb with sternum
- Multiple fractures of upper limb with sternum AND ribs
- Open fracture of eight OR more ribs
- Open fracture of five ribs
- Open fracture of four ribs
- Open fracture of multiple ribs
- Open fracture of seven ribs
- Open fracture of six ribs
- Open fracture of sternum
- Open fracture of three ribs
- Open fracture of two ribs
- Open multiple fractures of lower limb AND sternum
- Open multiple fractures of lower limb with ribs AND sternum
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.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
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.
Convert S22.49XA to ICD-9-CMHistory
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S22.49XAOverview
Is S22.49XA (Multiple fractures of ribs, unspecified side) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report multiple fractures of ribs, unspecified side, initial encounter for closed fracture on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character A in S22.49XA mean?
The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for multiple fractures of ribs, unspecified side, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.
What MS-DRG does S22.49XA group to?
When multiple fractures of ribs, unspecified side, initial encounter for closed fracture is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 183, 184, 185, 963, 964, 965, with relative weights from 0.7865 to 2.7338 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S22.49XA?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, multiple fractures of ribs, unspecified side, initial encounter for closed fracture converts to ICD-9-CM 807.02 (fracture two ribs-closed) and 807.09 (fx mult ribs NOS-closed). 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.
