Fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine (S22)

Browse all the diagnosis codes used for fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine (s22). For easy navigation, the diagnosis codes are sorted in alphabetical order and grouped by sections. Each section is clearly marked with its description, and the corresponding three-digit code range. This format makes it simple to browse diagnosis codes in this chapter or section and find what you're looking for. We've also added green checkmark icons to label billable codes, and red warning icons for non-billable ones. This makes it easy to identify which codes can be billed.

Clinical Information

Flail Chest - A complication of multiple RIB FRACTURES; RIB and STERNUM fractures, or thoracic surgery. A portion of the THORACIC WALL becomes isolated from the RIB CAGE and exhibits paradoxical respiration.

Instructional Notations

Includes

This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.

• fracture of thoracic neural arch
• fracture of thoracic spinous process
• fracture of thoracic transverse process
• fracture of thoracic vertebra
• fracture of thoracic vertebral arch

Code Also

A "code also" note instructs that two codes may be required to fully describe a condition, but this note does not provide sequencing direction.

• , if applicable, any associated:
• injury of intrathoracic organ S27
• spinal cord injury S24.0 S24.1

Type 1 Excludes

A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.

• transection of thorax S28.1

Type 2 Excludes

A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.

• fracture of clavicle S42.0
• fracture of scapula S42.1

7th Character Note

Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.

• The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S22

7th Character

Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.

• A - initial encounter for closed fracture
• B - initial encounter for open fracture
• D - subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
• G - subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
• K - subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
• S - sequela

• A fracture not indicated as displaced or nondisplaced should be coded to displaced
• A fracture not indicated as open or closed should be coded to closed