2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S44.8X9SInjury of other nerves at shoulder and upper arm level, unspecified arm, sequela
S44.8X9S is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for injury of other nerves at shoulder and 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 closed injury, suprascapular nerve. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury, sequela.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
S44.8X9S 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.
- Closed injury, suprascapular nerve
- Open injury, suprascapular nerve
- Suprascapular nerve injury
- Suprascapular nerve lesion
- Suprascapular neuropathy
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
Shoulder Injuries and Disorders
Your shoulder joint is composed of three bones: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the humerus (upper arm bone). Your shoulders are the most movable joints in your body. They can also be unstable because the ball of the upper arm is larger than the shoulder socket that holds it.
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Convert S44.8X9S to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S44.8X9SOverview
Is S44.8X9S a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report injury of other nerves at shoulder and 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 S44.8X9S mean?
The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the injury of other nerves at shoulder and upper arm level, unspecified arm itself has resolved, not the original event.
Is S44.8X9S 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 other nerves at shoulder and upper arm level, unspecified arm, sequela on inpatient claims.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S44.8X9S?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, injury of other nerves at shoulder and 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.
