2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S39.022ALaceration of muscle, fascia and tendon of lower back, initial encounter
S39.022A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for laceration of muscle, fascia and tendon of lower back, 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 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 604 through 605, 963 through 965. Coders also document this condition as injury of fascia of lower back. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Open wounds of trunk, initial encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Injury of fascia of lower back
- Injury of muscle of lower back
- Injury of tendon of lower back
- Laceration of fascia of lower back
- Laceration of lower back
- Laceration of muscle of lower back
- Laceration of tendon of back
- Laceration of tendon of lower back
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Other and unspecified injuries of abdomen, lower back, pelvis and external genitals (S39). 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 2026, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Wounds and Injuries
An injury is damage to your body. It is a general term that refers to harm caused by accidents, falls, hits, weapons, and more. In the U.S., millions of people injure themselves every year. These injuries range from minor to life-threatening.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
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Convert S39.022A to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S39.022AOverview
Is S39.022A (Laceration of muscle, fascia and tendon of lower back) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report laceration of muscle, fascia and tendon of lower back, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character A in S39.022A mean?
The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for laceration of muscle, fascia and tendon of lower back, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.
What MS-DRG does S39.022A group to?
When laceration of muscle, fascia and tendon of lower back, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 604, 605, 963, 964, 965, with relative weights from 0.9160 to 2.7338 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S39.022A?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, laceration of muscle, fascia and tendon of lower back, initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 879.6 (open wound of trunk NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
Footnotes
[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.
