2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S53Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of elbow

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S50-S59›S53

ICD-10-CM S53
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S53 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of elbow, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as S53.001A, S53.001D, S53.001S, and S53.002A.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S53
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of elbow
Short Description
Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of elbow
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
S50-S59
Injuries to the elbow and forearm

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS50-S59Injuries to the elbow and forearm
CategoryS53Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of elbow
This CodeS53Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of elbow

Specific Coding for Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of elbowOverview

Non-specific codes like S53 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • S53.0 for Subluxation and dislocation of radial head

  • S53.00 for Unspecified subluxation and dislocation of radial head

  • S53.01 for Anterior subluxation and dislocation of radial head

  • S53.02 for Posterior subluxation and dislocation of radial head

  • S53.03 for Nursemaid's elbow

  • S53.09 for Other subluxation and dislocation of radial head

  • S53.1 for Subluxation and dislocation of ulnohumeral joint

  • S53.10 for Unspecified subluxation and dislocation of ulnohumeral joint

  • S53.11 for Anterior subluxation and dislocation of ulnohumeral joint

  • S53.12 for Posterior subluxation and dislocation of ulnohumeral joint

  • S53.13 for Medial subluxation and dislocation of ulnohumeral joint

  • S53.14 for Lateral subluxation and dislocation of ulnohumeral joint

  • S53.19 for Other subluxation and dislocation of ulnohumeral joint

  • S53.2 for Traumatic rupture of radial collateral ligament

  • S53.20 for Traumatic rupture of unspecified radial collateral ligament

  • S53.21 for Traumatic rupture of right radial collateral ligament

  • S53.22 for Traumatic rupture of left radial collateral ligament

  • S53.3 for Traumatic rupture of ulnar collateral ligament

  • S53.30 for Traumatic rupture of unspecified ulnar collateral ligament

  • S53.31 for Traumatic rupture of right ulnar collateral ligament

  • S53.32 for Traumatic rupture of left ulnar collateral ligament

  • S53.4 for Sprain of elbow

  • S53.40 for Unspecified sprain of elbow

  • S53.41 for Radiohumeral (joint) sprain

  • S53.42 for Ulnohumeral (joint) sprain

  • S53.43 for Radial collateral ligament sprain

  • S53.44 for Ulnar collateral ligament sprain

  • S53.49 for Other sprain of elbow

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of elbow (S53). 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 S53: its own notes plus those printed at block S50-S59 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.

  • avulsion of joint or ligament of elbow
  • laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament of elbow
  • sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament of elbow
  • traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament of elbow
  • traumatic rupture of joint or ligament of elbow
  • traumatic subluxation of joint or ligament of elbow
  • traumatic tear of joint or ligament of elbow

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 S53 itself
  • strain of muscle, fascia and tendon at forearm level (S56.-)
From Block S50-S59 Injuries to the elbow and forearm applies to 4,362 codes
  • burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
  • frostbite (T33-T34)
  • injuries of wrist and hand (S60-S69)
  • insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
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

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 S53
Values for category S53 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter
  • Ssequela

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

Patient EducationClinical

Dislocations

Dislocations are joint injuries that force the ends of your bones out of position. The cause is often a fall or a blow, sometimes from playing a contact sport. You can dislocate your ankles, knees, shoulders, hips, elbows and jaw. You can also dislocate your finger and toe joints.

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 S53Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of elbow?

S53 is the ICD-10-CM category for dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of elbow, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is S53 (Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of elbow) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of elbow, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of elbow need a more specific code from this category, such as S53.001A, S53.001D, and S53.001S.