2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S54.10XAInjury of median nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm, initial encounter
S54.10XA is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for injury of median nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm, initial encounter. The 7th character A marks it as an initial encounter code, used while the patient is receiving active treatment. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 963 through 965. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury to nerves, muscles and tendons, initial encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Anterior interosseous nerve injury
- Anterior interosseous nerve lesion
- Closed injury, anterior interosseous nerve
- Closed injury, median nerve
- Closed injury, median nerve, motor branch
- Injury of branch of median nerve
- Injury of median nerve
- Injury of median nerve at forearm level
- Injury of median nerve distal to forearm
- Injury of nerve at forearm level
- Open injury, anterior interosseous nerve
- Open injury, median nerve
- Open injury, median nerve, motor branch
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 S54.10XA to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S54.10XAOverview
Is S54.10XA (Injury of median nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report injury of median nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character A in S54.10XA mean?
The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for injury of median nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.
What MS-DRG does S54.10XA group to?
When injury of median nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 963, 964, 965, with relative weights from 0.9405 to 2.7338 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S54.10XA?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, injury of median nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm, initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 955.1 (injury median nerve). 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.
