2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S54.00XDInjury of ulnar nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter
S54.00XD is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for injury of ulnar nerve at forearm level, unspecified 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 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) 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
S54.00XD 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, ulnar nerve
- Closed injury, ulnar nerve, dorsal sensory
- Injury of branch of ulnar nerve
- Injury of cutaneous sensory nerve of upper limb
- Injury of nerve at forearm level
- Injury of ulnar nerve
- Injury of ulnar nerve at forearm level
- Open injury, ulnar nerve
- Open injury, ulnar nerve, palmar sensory
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Injury of nerves at forearm level (S54). 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
Arm Injuries and Disorders
Of the 206 bones in your body, three of them are in your arm: the humerus, radius, and ulna. Your arms are also made up of muscles, joints, tendons, and other connective tissue. Injuries to any of these parts of the arm can occur during sports, a fall, or an accident.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
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Convert S54.00XD to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S54.00XDOverview
Is S54.00XD (Injury of ulnar nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report injury of ulnar nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character D in S54.00XD mean?
The final character D marks a subsequent encounter: use it for routine care while the injury of ulnar nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm is healing, after active treatment has ended.
What MS-DRG does S54.00XD group to?
When injury of ulnar nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 949, 950, with relative weights from 0.6277 to 1.1897 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is S54.00XD 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 forearm level, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter on inpatient claims.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S54.00XD?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, injury of ulnar nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter converts to ICD-9-CM V58.89 (other specfied aftercare). 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.
