2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S44.20XSInjury of radial nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, sequela
S44.20XS is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, 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). The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as injury of radial nerve. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury, sequela.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
S44.20XS 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.
- Injury of radial nerve
- Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level
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 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
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 S44.20XS to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S44.20XSOverview
Is S44.20XS (Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, sequela on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character S in S44.20XS mean?
The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm itself has resolved, not the original event.
Is S44.20XS 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 radial nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, sequela on inpatient claims.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S44.20XS?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, sequela converts to ICD-9-CM 907.4 (lt eff nerv inj shld/arm). 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.
