2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S44Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S40-S49›S44

ICD-10-CM S44
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S44 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as S44.00XA, S44.00XD, S44.00XS, and S44.01XA.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S44
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level
Short Description
Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
S40-S49
Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS40-S49Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm
CategoryS44Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level
This CodeS44Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level

Specific Coding for Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm levelOverview

Non-specific codes like S44 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • S44.0 for Injury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level

  • S44.00 for Injury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm

  • S44.01 for Injury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, right arm

  • S44.02 for Injury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, left arm

  • S44.1 for Injury of median nerve at upper arm level

  • S44.10 for Injury of median nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm

  • S44.11 for Injury of median nerve at upper arm level, right arm

  • S44.12 for Injury of median nerve at upper arm level, left arm

  • S44.2 for Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level

  • S44.20 for Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm

  • S44.21 for Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, right arm

  • S44.22 for Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, left arm

  • S44.3 for Injury of axillary nerve

  • S44.30 for Injury of axillary nerve, unspecified arm

  • S44.31 for Injury of axillary nerve, right arm

  • S44.32 for Injury of axillary nerve, left arm

  • S44.4 for Injury of musculocutaneous nerve

  • S44.40 for Injury of musculocutaneous nerve, unspecified arm

  • S44.41 for Injury of musculocutaneous nerve, right arm

  • S44.42 for Injury of musculocutaneous nerve, left arm

  • S44.5 for Injury of cutaneous sensory nerve at shoulder and upper arm level

  • S44.50 for Injury of cutaneous sensory nerve at shoulder and upper arm level, unspecified arm

  • S44.51 for Injury of cutaneous sensory nerve at shoulder and upper arm level, right arm

  • S44.52 for Injury of cutaneous sensory nerve at shoulder and upper arm level, left arm

  • S44.8 for Injury of other nerves at shoulder and upper arm level

  • S44.8X for Injury of other nerves at shoulder and upper arm level

  • S44.9 for Injury of unspecified nerve at shoulder and upper arm level

  • S44.90 for Injury of unspecified nerve at shoulder and upper arm level, unspecified arm

  • S44.91 for Injury of unspecified nerve at shoulder and upper arm level, right arm

  • S44.92 for Injury of unspecified nerve at shoulder and upper arm level, left arm

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level (S44). 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 S44: its own notes plus those printed at block S40-S49 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 S40-S49 Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm applies to 2,730 codes
  • injuries of axilla
  • injuries of scapular region

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.

On S44 itself
  • injury of brachial plexus (S14.3-)
From Block S40-S49 Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm applies to 2,730 codes
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.

  • any associated open wound (S41.-)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

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.

  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S44
Values for category S44 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter
  • Ssequela

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

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.

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 S44Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level?

S44 is the ICD-10-CM category for injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is S44 (Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level need a more specific code from this category, such as S44.00XA, S44.00XD, and S44.00XS.