2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S34.3XXA

Injury of cauda equina, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM Code:
S34.3XXA
ICD-10 Code for:
Injury of cauda equina, initial encounter
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
    (S00–T88)
    • Injuries to the abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine, pelvis and external genitals
      (S30-S39)
      • Injury of lumbar and sacral spinal cord and nerves at abdomen, lower back and pelvis level
        (S34)

S34.3XXA is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of injury of cauda equina, initial encounter. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

S34.3XXA is an initial encounter code, includes a 7th character and should be used while the patient is receiving active treatment for a condition like injury of cauda equina. According to ICD-10-CM Guidelines an "initial encounter" doesn't necessarily means "initial visit". The 7th character should be used when the patient is undergoing active treatment regardless if new or different providers saw the patient over the course of a treatment. The appropriate 7th character codes should also be used even if the patient delayed seeking treatment for a condition.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

  • Cauda equina injury without spinal bone injury
  • Closed fracture of sacrum AND/OR coccyx with cauda equina injury
  • Closed fracture of sacrum AND/OR coccyx with complete cauda equina lesion
  • Closed fracture of sacrum with complete cauda equina lesion
  • Closed fracture sacrum
  • Closed injury cauda equina
  • Closed spinal dislocation with cauda equina lesion
  • Closed spinal dislocation with cauda equina lesion
  • Closed spinal fracture with cauda equina lesion
  • Closed spinal fracture with cauda equina lesion
  • Closed spinal fracture with cauda equina lesion
  • Closed spinal fracture with cauda equina lesion
  • Closed spinal subluxation with cauda equina lesion
  • Closed subluxation lumbar spine
  • Injury of cauda equina
  • Open fracture of sacrum AND/OR coccyx with cauda equina injury
  • Open fracture of sacrum AND/OR coccyx with complete cauda equina lesion
  • Open fracture of sacrum with complete cauda equina lesion
  • Open fracture sacrum
  • Open injury cauda equina
  • Open spinal dislocation with cauda equina lesion
  • Open spinal dislocation with cauda equina lesion
  • Open spinal fracture with cauda equina lesion
  • Open spinal fracture with cauda equina lesion
  • Open spinal fracture with cauda equina lesion
  • Open spinal fracture with cauda equina lesion
  • Open spinal subluxation with cauda equina lesion
  • Spinal subluxation with cauda equina lesion
  • Spinal subluxation with cauda equina lesion

Clinical Classification

Coding Guidelines

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Injury of lumbar and sacral spinal cord and nerves at abdomen, lower back and pelvis level (S34). Use the following options for the aplicable episode of care:

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

Convert S34.3XXA to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 952.4 - Cauda equina injury
    Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.