Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S02.1

Fracture of base of skull

ICD-10-CM Code:
S02.1
ICD-10 Code for:
Fracture of base of skull
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
    (S00–T88)
    • Injuries to the head
      (S00-S09)
      • Fracture of skull and facial bones
        (S02)

S02.1 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of fracture of base of skull. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Fracture of base of skull

Non-specific codes like S02.1 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for fracture of base of skull:

  • S02.10 for Unspecified fracture of base of skull - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.101 for Fracture of base of skull, right side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.101A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.101B for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.101D for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.101G for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.101K for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.101S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.102 for Fracture of base of skull, left side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.102A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.102B for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.102D for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.102G for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.102K for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.102S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.109 for Fracture of base of skull, unspecified side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.109A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.109B for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.109D for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.109G for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.109K for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.109S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.11 for Fracture of occiput - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.110 for Type I occipital condyle fracture, unspecified side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.110A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.110B for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.110D for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.110G for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.110K for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.110S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.111 for Type II occipital condyle fracture, unspecified side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.111A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.111B for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.111D for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.111G for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.111K for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.111S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.112 for Type III occipital condyle fracture, unspecified side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.112A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.112B for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.112D for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.112G for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.112K for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.112S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.113 for Unspecified occipital condyle fracture - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.113A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.113B for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.113D for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.113G for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.113K for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.113S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.118 for Other fracture of occiput, unspecified side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.118A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.118B for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.118D for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.118G for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.118K for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.118S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.119 for Unspecified fracture of occiput - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.119A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.119B for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.119D for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.119G for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.119K for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.119S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.11A for Type I occipital condyle fracture, right side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11AA for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11AB for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11AD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11AG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11AK for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11AS for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.11B for Type I occipital condyle fracture, left side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11BA for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11BB for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11BD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11BG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11BK for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11BS for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.11C for Type II occipital condyle fracture, right side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11CA for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11CB for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11CD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11CG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11CK for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11CS for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.11D for Type II occipital condyle fracture, left side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11DA for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11DB for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11DD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11DG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11DK for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11DS for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.11E for Type III occipital condyle fracture, right side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11EA for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11EB for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11ED for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11EG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11EK for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11ES for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.11F for Type III occipital condyle fracture, left side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11FA for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11FB for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11FD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11FG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11FK for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11FS for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.11G for Other fracture of occiput, right side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11GA for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11GB for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11GD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11GG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11GK for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11GS for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.11H for Other fracture of occiput, left side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11HA for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11HB for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11HD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11HG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11HK for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.11HS for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.12 for Fracture of orbital roof - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.121 for Fracture of orbital roof, right side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.121A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.121B for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.121D for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.121G for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.121K for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.121S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.122 for Fracture of orbital roof, left side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.122A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.122B for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.122D for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.122G for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.122K for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.122S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.129 for Fracture of orbital roof, unspecified side - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.129A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.129B for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.129D for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.129G for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.129K for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.129S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S02.19 for Other fracture of base of skull - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.19XA for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.19XB for initial encounter for open fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.19XD for subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.19XG for subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.19XK for subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S02.19XS for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

Coding Guidelines

The principles of multiple coding of injuries should be followed in coding fractures. Fractures of specified sites are coded individually by site nd the level of detail furnished by medical record content.

A fracture not indicated as open or closed should be coded to closed. A fracture not indicated whether displaced or not displaced should be coded to displaced.

Initial vs. Subsequent Encounter for Fractures

Traumatic fractures are coded using the appropriate 7th character for initial encounter (A, B, C) for each encounter where the patient is receiving active treatment for the fracture. The appropriate 7th character for initial encounter should also be assigned for a patient who delayed seeking treatment for the fracture or nonunion.

Fractures are coded using the appropriate 7th character for subsequent care for encounters after the patient has completed active treatment of the fracture and is receiving routine care for the fracture during the healing or recovery phase.

Care for complications of surgical treatment for fracture repairs during the healing or recovery phase should be coded with the appropriate complication codes.

Care of complications of fractures, such as malunion and nonunion, should be reported with the appropriate 7th character for subsequent care with nonunion (K, M, N,) or subsequent care with malunion (P, Q, R).

Malunion/nonunion: The appropriate 7th character for initial encounter should also be assigned for a patient who delayed seeking treatment for the fracture or nonunion.

The open fracture designations in the assignment of the 7th character for fractures of the forearm, femur and lower leg, including ankle are based on the Gustilo open fracture classification. When the Gustilo classification type is not specified for an open fracture, the 7th character for open fracture type I or II should be assigned (B, E, H, M, Q).

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Type 2 Excludes

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.

Patient Education


Fractures

A fracture is a break, usually in a bone. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an open or compound fracture. Fractures commonly happen because of car accidents, falls, or sports injuries. Other causes are low bone density and osteoporosis, which cause weakening of the bones. Overuse can cause stress fractures, which are very small cracks in the bone.

Symptoms of a fracture are:

  • Intense pain
  • Deformity - the limb looks out of place
  • Swelling, bruising, or tenderness around the injury
  • Numbness and tingling
  • Problems moving a limb

You need to get medical care right away for any fracture. An x-ray can tell if your bone is broken. You may need to wear a cast or splint. Sometimes you need surgery to put in plates, pins or screws to keep the bone in place.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Head Injuries

Chances are you've bumped your head before. Often, the injury is minor because your skull is hard and it protects your brain. But other head injuries can be more severe, such as a skull fracture, concussion, or traumatic brain injury.

Head injuries can be open or closed. A closed injury does not break through the skull. With an open, or penetrating, injury, an object pierces the skull and enters the brain. Closed injuries are not always less severe than open injuries.

Some common causes of head injuries are falls, motor vehicle accidents, violence, and sports injuries.

It is important to know the warning signs of a moderate or severe head injury. Get help immediately if the injured person has:

  • A headache that gets worse or does not go away
  • Repeated vomiting or nausea
  • Convulsions or seizures
  • An inability to wake up
  • Dilated (enlarged) pupil in one or both eyes
  • Slurred speech
  • Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
  • Loss of coordination
  • Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation

Doctors use a neurologic exam and imaging tests to make a diagnosis. Treatment depends on the type of injury and how severe it is.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.