2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S44.01XDInjury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, right arm, subsequent encounter
S44.01XD is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for injury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, right arm, 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
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
S44.01XD is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review the other POA exempt codes in Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm (S40-S49).
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 S44.01XD: its own notes plus those printed at S44.0, S44, 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.
- injuries of axilla
- injuries of scapular region
Excludes1
Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
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.
- injury of brachial plexus (S14.3-)
Use Additional Code
Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.
- 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.
Notes
General instructions on how these codes are used.
- 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
- Ainitial encounter
- Dsubsequent encounter this code
- Ssequela
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
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 S44.01XD to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S44.01XDOverview
Is S44.01XD (Injury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, right arm) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report injury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, right arm, subsequent encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What does the 7th character D in S44.01XD mean?
The final character D marks a subsequent encounter: use it for routine care while the injury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, right arm is healing, after active treatment has ended.
What MS-DRG does S44.01XD group to?
When injury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, right arm, 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 S44.01XD 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 ulnar nerve at upper arm level, right arm, subsequent encounter on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm (S40-S49) range of the CMS exempt list.
Can S44.01XD be reported with S54.0?
Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at S44.0, which applies to S44.01XD, lists "ulnar nerve NOS (S54.0)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).