2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S22.5XXGFlail chest, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
S22.5XXG is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for flail chest, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing. The 7th character G reports a subsequent encounter for a fracture that is healing more slowly than expected. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 559 through 561. The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as closed flail chest. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Fracture of torso, subsequent encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
S22.5XXG is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Closed flail chest
- Flail chest
- Flail sternum
- Open flail chest
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.
Clinical InformationClinical
Flail Chest
a complication of multiple rib fractures; rib and sternum fractures, or thoracic surgery. a portion of the thoracic wall becomes isolated from the rib cage and exhibits paradoxical respiration.
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 S22.5XXG to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S22.5XXGOverview
Is S22.5XXG (Flail chest) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report flail chest, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character G in S22.5XXG mean?
The final character G reports a subsequent encounter where the flail chest is healing more slowly than expected.
What MS-DRG does S22.5XXG group to?
When flail chest, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 559, 560, 561, with relative weights from 0.8039 to 1.8649 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is S22.5XXG 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 flail chest, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing on inpatient claims.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S22.5XXG?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, flail chest, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing converts to ICD-9-CM V54.19 (aftrce traum fx bone NEC). 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.
