2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S39.92XSUnspecified injury of lower back, sequela
S39.92XS is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified injury of lower back, 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 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 913 through 914. The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as central cord syndrome of lumbar spinal cord due to traumatic injury. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury, sequela.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
S39.92XS is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Central cord syndrome of lumbar spinal cord due to traumatic injury
- Injury of back
- Injury of back of trunk
- Injury of buttock
- Injury of coccyx
- Lower back injury
- Multiple injuries of lower back
- Traumatic injury of back of neck and trunk
- Traumatic injury of back of trunk
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
Back Injuries
Your back is made of bones, muscles, and other tissues extending from your neck to your pelvis. Back injuries can result from sports injuries, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident. The lower back is the most common site of back injuries and back pain. Common back injuries include :
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert S39.92XS to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S39.92XSOverview
Is S39.92XS (Unspecified injury of lower back) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified injury of lower back, sequela on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character S in S39.92XS mean?
The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the unspecified injury of lower back itself has resolved, not the original event.
What MS-DRG does S39.92XS group to?
When unspecified injury of lower back, sequela is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 913, 914, with relative weights from 0.8855 to 1.6346 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is S39.92XS 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 unspecified injury of lower back, sequela on inpatient claims.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S39.92XS?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unspecified injury of lower back, sequela converts to ICD-9-CM 908.9 (late effect injury NOS). 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.
