2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S34.22XAInjury of nerve root of sacral spine, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S30-S39›S34

ICD-10-CM S34.22XA
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S34.22XA is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for injury of nerve root of sacral spine, initial encounter. The 7th character A marks it as an initial encounter code, used while the patient is receiving active treatment. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 73 through 74, 963 through 965. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury to nerves, muscles and tendons, initial encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S34.22XA
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Injury of nerve root of sacral spine, initial encounter
Short Description
Injury of nerve root of sacral spine, initial encounter
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
S34.22
Injury of nerve root of sacral 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 CodeS34.22XAInjury of nerve root of sacral spine, initial encounter

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Avulsion of sacral nerve root
  • Avulsion of spinal nerve root
  • Contusion of lower back
  • Contusion of peripheral nerve
  • Contusion of sacral nerve root
  • Contusion of sacral region
  • Contusion of spinal nerve root
  • Disorder of sacral nerve root S1
  • Injury of sacral nerve roots
  • Neurotmesis of peripheral nerve
  • Partial division of peripheral nerve
  • Partial division of sacral nerve root
  • Partial division of spinal nerve root
  • Sacral nerve root injury - S1
  • Sacral nerve root injury - S2
  • Sacral nerve root injury - S3
  • Sacral nerve root injury - S4
  • Sacral nerve root injury - S5
  • Traction injury of peripheral nerve
  • Traction injury of sacral nerve root
  • Traction injury of spinal nerve root
  • Transection of sacral 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 S34.22XA: 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 this code
  • 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 S34.22XA, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming S34.22XA: 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 S34.22XA 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 INJ025
Injury to nerves, muscles and tendons, initial 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 S34.22XA to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
953.3 Sacral root injury
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 S34.22XAOverview

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

The ICD-10-CM code for injury of nerve root of sacral spine, initial encounter is S34.22XA (sometimes written as S3422XA). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is S34.22XA (Injury of nerve root of sacral spine) a billable code?

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

What does the 7th character A in S34.22XA mean?

The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for injury of nerve root of sacral spine, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.

What MS-DRG does S34.22XA group to?

When injury of nerve root of sacral spine, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 964, 965, 74, 73, 963, with relative weights from 1.0054 to 2.6361 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S34.22XA?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, injury of nerve root of sacral spine, initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 953.3 (sacral root injury). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.