2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S34.123SIncomplete lesion of L3 level of lumbar spinal cord, sequela

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S30-S39›S34

ICD-10-CM S34.123S
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S34.123S is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for incomplete lesion of L3 level of lumbar spinal cord, 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 52 through 53. The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as anterior cord syndrome of lumbar spinal cord. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury, sequela.

S34.123S no longer risk-adjusts for Medicare Advantage: it mapped to HCC 72 under the retired CMS-HCC V24 model through payment year 2025 but maps to no category in the live V28 model. It still risk-adjusts in the PACE (CMS-HCC V22) category 72, ESRD (V21) category 72, and ESRD (V24) category 72 for payment year 2027.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S34.123S
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Incomplete lesion of L3 level of lumbar spinal cord, sequela
Short Description
Incomplete lesion of L3 level of lumbar spinal cord, sequela
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
S34.123
Incomplete lesion of L3 level of lumbar spinal cord

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS30-S39Injuries to the abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine, pelvis and external genitals
CategoryS34Injury of lumbar and sacral spinal cord and nerves at abdomen, lower back and pelvis level
This CodeS34.123SIncomplete lesion of L3 level of lumbar spinal cord, sequela

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

S34.123S is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review the other POA exempt codes in Injuries to the abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine, pelvis and external genitals (S30-S39).

Medicare Risk Adjustment (HCC)Billing

S34.123S no longer risk-adjusts for Medicare Advantage: it maps to no payment category in the live CMS-HCC V28 model, although it still risk-adjusts in the other CMS models shown below.

CMS-HCC V28 (Medicare Advantage Payment Model)
Not mapped
Dropped in V28 see all codes that no longer risk-adjust
Prior Model (CMS-HCC V24)
HCC 72
V24 retired last contributed to a Medicare Advantage risk score in payment year 2025
Other CMS Models
PACE (CMS-HCC V22): HCC 72 · ESRD (V21): HCC 72 · ESRD (V24): HCC 72
ESRD V21 weights: 0.102 dialysis, 0.256–0.456 functioning graft · ESRD V24 weights: 0.099 dialysis, 0.222–0.523 functioning graft
Part D (RxHCC)
Not mapped
S34.123S does not risk-adjust in the RxHCC prescription drug model

Source: CMS Payment Year 2027 risk adjustment mappings and model software. Weights are relative factors, not dollar amounts; a beneficiary's total RAF also includes demographics and interactions. Browse all CMS-HCC categories.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Anterior cord syndrome of lumbar spinal cord
  • Anterior cord syndrome of lumbar spinal cord at L3 level
  • Brown-Séquard syndrome at L3 level
  • Brown-Séquard syndrome of lumbar spinal cord
  • Central cord syndrome of lumbar spinal cord at L3 level
  • Posterior cord syndrome of lumbar spinal cord
  • Posterior cord syndrome of lumbar spinal cord at L3 level

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

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 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 S34.123S: its own notes plus those printed at S34, block S30-S39, 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 S30-S39 Injuries to the abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine, pelvis and external genitals applies to 2,679 codes
  • injuries to the abdominal wall
  • injuries to the anus
  • injuries to the buttock
  • injuries to the external genitalia
  • injuries to the flank
  • injuries to the groin

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 Block S30-S39 Injuries to the abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine, pelvis and external genitals applies to 2,679 codes
  • burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
  • effects of foreign body in anus and rectum (T18.5)
  • effects of foreign body in genitourinary tract (T19.-)
  • effects of foreign body in stomach, small intestine and colon (T18.2-T18.4)
  • frostbite (T33-T34)
  • 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 S34 Injury of lumbar and sacral spinal cord and nerves at abdomen, lower back and pelvis level applies to 93 codes
  • any associated:
  • fracture of vertebra (S22.0-, S32.0-)
  • open wound of abdomen, lower back and pelvis (S31.-)
  • transient paralysis (R29.5)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From S34 Injury of lumbar and sacral spinal cord and nerves at abdomen, lower back and pelvis level applies to 93 codes
  • Code to highest level of lumbar cord injury
  • Injuries to the spinal cord (S34.0 and S34.1) 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.

From S34 Injury of lumbar and sacral spinal cord and nerves at abdomen, lower back and pelvis level applies to 93 codes
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S34
Values for category S34 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter
  • Ssequela this code

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name S34.123S, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming S34.123S: 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) names S34, which includes this code

Code First 2

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and S34.123S is one of the conditions named.

  • R29.5 Transient paralysis
    any associated spinal cord injury (S14.0, S14.1-, S24.0, S24.1-, S34.0-, S34.1-) names S34.1-, which includes this code
  • S32 Fracture of lumbar spine and pelvis
    any associated spinal cord and spinal nerve injury (S34.-) names S34.-, which includes this code

Use Additional Code 1

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and S34.123S is one of the codes named.

  • S38.1 Crushing injury of abdomen, lower back, and pelvis
    spinal cord injury (S34.0, S34.1-) names S34.1-, which includes this code

Code Also 2

These codes say S34.123S may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • S31 Open wound of abdomen, lower back, pelvis and external genitals
    spinal cord injury (S24.0, S24.1-, S34.0-, S34.1-) names S34.1-, which includes this code
  • S33.1 Subluxation and dislocation of lumbar vertebra
    spinal cord injury (S24.0, S24.1-, S34.0-, S34.1-) names S34.1-, which includes this code

Notes 1

These notes mention S34.123S.

  • S34 Injury of lumbar and sacral spinal cord and nerves at abdomen, lower back and pelvis level
    Injuries to the spinal cord (S34.0 and S34.1) refer to the cord level and not bone level injury, and can affect nerve roots at and below the level given. names S34.1, which includes this code

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

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.

Convert S34.123S to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
907.2 Late eff spinal cord inj
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 S34.123SOverview

What is the ICD-10 code for incomplete lesion of L3 level of lumbar spinal cord, sequela?

The ICD-10-CM code for incomplete lesion of L3 level of lumbar spinal cord, sequela is S34.123S (sometimes written as S34123S). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is S34.123S (Incomplete lesion of L3 level of lumbar spinal cord) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report incomplete lesion of L3 level of lumbar spinal cord, sequela on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What does the 7th character S in S34.123S mean?

The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the incomplete lesion of L3 level of lumbar spinal cord itself has resolved, not the original event.

What MS-DRG does S34.123S group to?

When incomplete lesion of L3 level of lumbar spinal cord, sequela is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 53, 52, with relative weights from 0.9723 to 1.7843 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is S34.123S 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 incomplete lesion of L3 level of lumbar spinal cord, sequela on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Injuries to the abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine, pelvis and external genitals (S30-S39) range of the CMS exempt list.

Does S34.123S risk-adjust for Medicare Advantage payment?

Not for Medicare Advantage. S34.123S mapped to HCC 72 in the retired CMS-HCC V24 model, which last determined payment in 2025, but it maps to no category in the live V28 model; see all codes that no longer risk-adjust. It still risk-adjusts in the PACE (CMS-HCC V22) category 72 (Spinal Cord Disorders/Injuries), ESRD (V21) category 72 (Spinal Cord Disorders/Injuries), and ESRD (V24) category 72 (Spinal Cord Disorders/Injuries).