2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S23.171SDislocation of T12/L1 thoracic vertebra, sequela

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S20-S29›S23

ICD-10-CM S23.171S
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S23.171S is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for dislocation of T12/L1 thoracic vertebra, sequela. The 7th character S marks it as a sequela code, which reports a problem that remains after the original condition has resolved. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 562 through 563. The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as fracture dislocation of spine. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury, sequela.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S23.171S
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Dislocation of T12/L1 thoracic vertebra, sequela
Short Description
Dislocation of T12/L1 thoracic vertebra, sequela
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
S23.171
Dislocation of T12/L1 thoracic vertebra

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS20-S29Injuries to the thorax
CategoryS23Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of thorax
This CodeS23.171SDislocation of T12/L1 thoracic vertebra, sequela

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

S23.171S 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).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Fracture dislocation of spine
  • Fracture dislocation of thoracolumbar junction

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of thorax (S23). Use the following options for the applicable episode of care:

  • A - initial encounter
  • D - subsequent encounter
  • S - sequela

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 S23.171S: its own notes plus those printed at S23.1, S23, 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.

From S23 Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of thorax applies to 108 codes
  • avulsion of joint or ligament of thorax
  • laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament of thorax
  • sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament of thorax
  • traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament of thorax
  • traumatic rupture of joint or ligament of thorax
  • traumatic subluxation of joint or ligament of thorax
  • traumatic tear of joint or ligament of thorax
From Block S20-S29 Injuries to the thorax applies to 1,602 codes
  • injuries of breast
  • injuries of chest (wall)
  • injuries of interscapular area

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.

From S23.1 Subluxation and dislocation of thoracic vertebra applies to 78 codes
  • fracture of thoracic vertebrae (S22.0-)
From S23 Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of thorax applies to 108 codes
  • dislocation, sprain of sternoclavicular joint (S43.2, S43.6)
  • strain of muscle or tendon of thorax (S29.01-)
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

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.

From S23.1 Subluxation and dislocation of thoracic vertebra applies to 78 codes
From S23 Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of thorax applies to 108 codes
  • any associated open wound

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

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.

From S23 Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of thorax applies to 108 codes
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S23
Values for category S23 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter
  • Ssequela this code

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

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR INJ073
Injury, sequela
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Dislocations

Dislocations are joint injuries that force the ends of your bones out of position. The cause is often a fall or a blow, sometimes from playing a contact sport. You can dislocate your ankles, knees, shoulders, hips, elbows and jaw. You can also dislocate your finger and toe joints.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert S23.171S to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
905.6 Late effect dislocation
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

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 S23.171SOverview

What is the ICD-10 code for dislocation of T12/L1 thoracic vertebra, sequela?

The ICD-10-CM code for dislocation of T12/L1 thoracic vertebra, sequela is S23.171S (sometimes written as S23171S). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is S23.171S (Dislocation of T12/L1 thoracic vertebra) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report dislocation of T12/L1 thoracic vertebra, sequela on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What does the 7th character S in S23.171S mean?

The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the dislocation of T12/L1 thoracic vertebra itself has resolved, not the original event.

What MS-DRG does S23.171S group to?

When dislocation of T12/L1 thoracic vertebra, sequela is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 563, 562, with relative weights from 0.8982 to 1.3981 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is S23.171S 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 dislocation of T12/L1 thoracic vertebra, sequela on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Injuries to the thorax (S20-S29) range of the CMS exempt list.