2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S24Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S20-S29›S24

ICD-10-CM S24
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S24 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as S24.0XXA, S24.0XXD, S24.0XXS, and S24.101A.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S24
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level
Short Description
Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level
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
CategoryS24Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level
This CodeS24Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level

Specific Coding for Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax levelOverview

Non-specific codes like S24 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • S24.0 for Concussion and edema of thoracic spinal cord

  • S24.1 for Other and unspecified injuries of thoracic spinal cord

  • S24.10 for Unspecified injury of thoracic spinal cord

  • S24.11 for Complete lesion of thoracic spinal cord

  • S24.13 for Anterior cord syndrome of thoracic spinal cord

  • S24.14 for Brown-Sequard syndrome of thoracic spinal cord

  • S24.15 for Other incomplete lesions of thoracic spinal cord

  • S24.2 for Injury of nerve root of thoracic spine

  • S24.3 for Injury of peripheral nerves of thorax

  • S24.4 for Injury of thoracic sympathetic nervous system

  • S24.8 for Injury of other specified nerves of thorax

  • S24.9 for Injury of unspecified nerve of thorax

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level (S24). 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 S24: 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.

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.

On S24 itself
  • injury of brachial plexus (S14.3)
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.

  • any associated:
  • fracture of thoracic vertebra (S22.0-)
  • open wound of thorax (S21.-)
  • transient paralysis (R29.5)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

On S24 itself
  • Code to highest level of thoracic spinal cord injury
  • Injuries to the spinal cord (S24.0 and S24.1) refer to the cord level and not bone level injury, and can affect nerve roots at and below the level given.
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 S24
Values for category S24 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter
  • 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 S24, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming S24: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • G83.8 Other specified paralytic syndromes
    paralytic syndromes due to current spinal cord injury-code to spinal cord injury (S14, S24, S34)

Patient EducationClinical

Spinal Cord Injuries

Your spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs down the middle of your back. It carries signals back and forth between your body and your brain. A spinal cord injury disrupts the signals. Spinal cord injuries usually begin with a blow that fractures (breaks) or dislocates your vertebrae, the bone disks that make up your spine.

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 S24Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level?

S24 is the ICD-10-CM category for injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is S24 (Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level need a more specific code from this category, such as S24.0XXA, S24.0XXD, and S24.0XXS.