Alphabetic Index FY2027

S14.159

Other incomplete lesion at unspecified level 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.

S14.159 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code header for other incomplete lesion at unspecified level of cervical spinal cord. Report a more specific code from it instead. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. A 7th character is required to complete the code. Its coding notes include a Use additional code instruction, a Code also instruction and 9 Excludes2 entries.

7th character

Category S14 requires a 7th character.

Assembled code S14.159A Open code

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.

Alphabetic Index terms

Terms the official Alphabetic Index lists for this code. 2 entries

7th-character codes under S14.159 3