FY2027 ICD-10-CM reference
S24: Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level
By the HCC Buddy Coding Team
The official ICD-10-CM descriptor is Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level. The FY2027 annual edition starts October 1, 2026. Check the edition that applies to the encounter or inpatient discharge, including any April update.
Nonbillable heading. Verified against the official FY2027 order file.
More specific FY2027 codes
- S24.0: Concussion and edema of thoracic spinal cordNonbillable heading
- S24.1: Other and unspecified injuries of thoracic spinal cordNonbillable heading
- S24.2: Injury of nerve root of thoracic spineNonbillable heading
- S24.3: Injury of peripheral nerves of thoraxNonbillable heading
- S24.4: Injury of thoracic sympathetic nervous systemNonbillable heading
- S24.8: Injury of other specified nerves of thoraxNonbillable heading
- S24.9: Injury of unspecified nerve of thoraxNonbillable heading
FY2027 Tabular instructions
Instructions below include applicable chapter, section and parent-code notes. Each note identifies where it appears in the official source.
Instructional note
Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Instructional note
code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Excludes2
birth trauma (P10-P15)
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Excludes2
obstetric trauma (O70-O71)
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Instructional note
The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Includes
injuries of breast
Source: S20-S29 (section, inherited).
Includes
injuries of chest (wall)
Source: S20-S29 (section, inherited).
Includes
injuries of interscapular area
Source: S20-S29 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
Source: S20-S29 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
effects of foreign body in bronchus (T17.5)
Source: S20-S29 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1)
Source: S20-S29 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
effects of foreign body in lung (T17.8)
Source: S20-S29 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
effects of foreign body in trachea (T17.4)
Source: S20-S29 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
frostbite (T33-T34)
Source: S20-S29 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
injuries of axilla
Source: S20-S29 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
injuries of clavicle
Source: S20-S29 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
injuries of scapular region
Source: S20-S29 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
injuries of shoulder
Source: S20-S29 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
Source: S20-S29 (section, inherited).
Instructional note
Code to highest level of thoracic spinal cord injury
Source: S24 (category, direct).
Instructional note
Injuries to the spinal cord (S24.0 and S24.1) refer to the cord level and not bone level injury, and can affect nerve roots at and below the level given.
Source: S24 (category, direct).
Code also
any associated:
Source: S24 (category, direct).
Code also
fracture of thoracic vertebra (S22.0-)
Source: S24 (category, direct).
Code also
open wound of thorax (S21.-)
Source: S24 (category, direct).
Code also
transient paralysis (R29.5)
Source: S24 (category, direct).
Excludes2
injury of brachial plexus (S14.3)
Source: S24 (category, direct).
Seventh-character instruction
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S24
Source: S24 (category, direct).
Instructional note
initial encounter
Source: S24 (category, direct).
Instructional note
subsequent encounter
Source: S24 (category, direct).
Instructional note
sequela
Source: S24 (category, direct).
Seventh-character definitions
- A: initial encounter
- D: subsequent encounter
- S: sequela
Compare the FY2027 additions, removals and billable-status changes
What does S24 mean in FY2027?
The official ICD-10-CM descriptor is Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level. The FY2027 annual edition starts October 1, 2026. Check the edition that applies to the encounter or inpatient discharge, including any April update.
Is S24 billable in FY2027?
The FY2027 order file marks S24 as a nonbillable heading. Select a complete billable child code.
Does S24 map to an HCC?
Risk-model mapping is not applicable to this nonbillable heading. Check a complete billable child code.
Source: CMS FY2027 ICD-10-CM order file. Payment model: CMS CY 2027 Rate Announcement. Read the FY2027 Official Guidelines.
Review the FY2026 April edition