2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S34.21XDInjury of nerve root of lumbar spine, subsequent encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S30-S39›S34

ICD-10-CM S34.21XD
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S34.21XD is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for injury of nerve root of lumbar spine, subsequent encounter. The 7th character D marks it as a subsequent encounter code, used during routine care in the healing or recovery phase. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 949 through 950. The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury to nerves, muscles and tendons, subsequent encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S34.21XD
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Injury of nerve root of lumbar spine, subsequent encounter
Short Description
Injury of nerve root of lumbar spine, subsequent encounter
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
S34.21
Injury of nerve root of lumbar spine

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 CodeS34.21XDInjury of nerve root of lumbar spine, subsequent encounter

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

S34.21XD 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).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Avulsion of lumbar nerve root
  • Avulsion of spinal nerve root
  • Contusion of lower back
  • Contusion of lumbar nerve root
  • Contusion of lumbar vertebral column region
  • Contusion of peripheral nerve
  • Contusion of spinal nerve root
  • Injury of lumbar nerve root
  • Lumbar nerve root injury - L1
  • Lumbar nerve root injury - L2
  • Lumbar nerve root injury - L3
  • Lumbar nerve root injury - L4
  • Lumbar nerve root injury - L5
  • Neurotmesis of peripheral nerve
  • Partial division of lumbar nerve root
  • Partial division of peripheral nerve
  • Partial division of spinal nerve root
  • Traction injury of lumbar nerve root
  • Traction injury of peripheral nerve
  • Traction injury of spinal nerve root
  • Transection of lumbar nerve root
  • Transection of spinal nerve root
  • Traumatic avulsion of peripheral nerve

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 S34.21XD: 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 this code
  • 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 S34.21XD, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming S34.21XD: 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 1

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and S34.21XD is one of the conditions named.

  • S32 Fracture of lumbar spine and pelvis
    any associated spinal cord and spinal nerve injury (S34.-) names S34.-, which includes this code

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR INJ062
Injury to nerves, muscles and tendons, subsequent encounter
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Peripheral Nerve Disorders

Nerves are like wires that carry messages back and forth between your brain and your body. Your peripheral nerves branch off from your brain and spinal cord and connect to all parts of your body, including your muscles and organs.

The full article covers:

  • What are peripheral nerves?
  • What are peripheral nerve disorders?
  • What causes peripheral nerve disorders?
  • What are the symptoms of peripheral nerve disorders?
  • How are peripheral nerve disorders diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for peripheral nerve disorders?
  • Can peripheral nerve disorders be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert S34.21XD to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V58.89 Other specfied aftercare
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 S34.21XDOverview

What is the ICD-10 code for injury of nerve root of lumbar spine, subsequent encounter?

The ICD-10-CM code for injury of nerve root of lumbar spine, subsequent encounter is S34.21XD (sometimes written as S3421XD). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is S34.21XD (Injury of nerve root of lumbar spine) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report injury of nerve root of lumbar spine, subsequent encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What does the 7th character D in S34.21XD mean?

The final character D marks a subsequent encounter: use it for routine care while the injury of nerve root of lumbar spine is healing, after active treatment has ended.

What MS-DRG does S34.21XD group to?

When injury of nerve root of lumbar spine, subsequent encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 950, 949, with relative weights from 0.7661 to 1.1231 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is S34.21XD 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 injury of nerve root of lumbar spine, subsequent encounter 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.