S14.1

Other and unspecified injuries of cervical spinal cord

FY2027Chapter 19: Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes/S10–S19 Injuries to the neck

Non-billable headerNot valid on its own. Use one of the more specific codes under it.

7th character required
Use additional code
Code also
Excludes2

S14.1 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code header for other and unspecified injuries of cervical spinal cord. Report a more specific code from it instead. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. The more specific codes under it are S14.10 Unspecified injury of cervical spinal cord, S14.11 Complete lesion of cervical spinal cord, S14.12 Central cord syndrome of cervical spinal cord, S14.13 Anterior cord syndrome of cervical spinal cord and 2 more. Its coding notes include a Use additional code instruction, a Code also instruction and 9 Excludes2 entries.

7th characters

Every code below needs one of these (defined at S14).

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S14

Ainitial encounter
Dsubsequent encounter
Ssequela

Guidelines tips

From the FY2027 Official Guidelines. ICD10Ref adds no rules of its own.

The 7th character depends on whether the patient is in active treatment, not on who sees the patient. An aftercare Z code is not used for injury aftercare.

Guidelines I.C.19.aInjuries: application of 7th charactersRead the official text

Each injury gets its own code unless a combination code exists, with the most serious injury first. Superficial injuries at the same site as a more severe injury are not coded. Injuries during medical care are coded as complications.

Guidelines I.C.19.bCoding of injuriesRead the official text

Use additional code

Add the listed code as a secondary code, if known.

Also from chapter/block level (1 note)

Inherited from Chapter 19 Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes

code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)

Code also

Two codes may be needed to describe the condition. This note gives no sequencing order.

Inherited from S14 Injury of nerves and spinal cord at neck level

any associated:
- fracture of cervical vertebra (S12.0--S12.6.-)
- open wound of neck (S11.-)
- transient paralysis (R29.5)

Excludes2

Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.

Also from chapter/block level (9 notes)

Inherited from S10–S19 Injuries to the neck

burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1)
effects of foreign body in larynx (T17.3)
effects of foreign body in pharynx (T17.2)
effects of foreign body in trachea (T17.4)
frostbite (T33-T34)
insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)

Inherited from Chapter 19 Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes

birth trauma (P10-P15)
obstetric trauma (O70-O71)

Includes

Further defines or gives examples of the content of the category.

Also from chapter/block level (3 notes)

Inherited from S10–S19 Injuries to the neck

injuries of nape
injuries of supraclavicular region
injuries of throat

Notes

Inherited from S14 Injury of nerves and spinal cord at neck level

Code to highest level of cervical cord injury

Also from chapter/block level (2 notes)

Inherited from Chapter 19 Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes

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
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.

More specific codes under S14.1 6