2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S96.919AStrain of unspecified muscle and tendon at ankle and foot level, unspecified foot, initial encounter
S96.919A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for strain of unspecified muscle and tendon at ankle and foot level, unspecified foot, 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 562 through 563, 963 through 965. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Sprains and strains, initial encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Rupture of tendon of foot and ankle
- Rupture of tendon of lower leg and ankle
- Strain of foot
- Strain of great toe
- Strain of lesser toe
- Strain of tendon of ankle
- Strain of tendon of foot
- Strain of tendon of foot and ankle
- Strain of toe
- Traumatic tear of tendon of ankle
- Traumatic tear of tendon of foot
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Injury of muscle and tendon at ankle and foot level (S96). 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
Ankle Injuries and Disorders
Your ankle bone and the ends of your two lower leg bones make up the ankle joint. Your ligaments, which connect bones to one another, stabilize and support it. Your muscles and tendons move it.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert S96.919A to ICD-9-CMHistory
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S96.919AOverview
Is S96.919A a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report strain of unspecified muscle and tendon at ankle and foot level, unspecified foot, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character A in S96.919A mean?
The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for strain of unspecified muscle and tendon at ankle and foot level, unspecified foot, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.
What MS-DRG does S96.919A group to?
When strain of unspecified muscle and tendon at ankle and foot level, unspecified foot, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 562, 563, 963, 964, 965, with relative weights from 0.8955 to 2.7338 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S96.919A?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, strain of unspecified muscle and tendon at ankle and foot level, unspecified foot, initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 845.00 (sprain of ankle NOS) and 845.10 (sprain of foot NOS). 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.
