ICD-10 S03
Non-Billable HeaderDislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of head
About ICD-10-CM S03
ICD-10-CM code S03 represents Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of head. This is a non-billable header code in the Injury, Poisoning, and External Causes chapter (block S03). The 2026 edition of ICD-10-CM S03 became effective on October 1, 2025. Non-billable codes cannot be used as a primary or secondary diagnosis on a claim, use a more specific child code instead.
Coding Tips for S03
Specialist guidance from the PayerReady Medical Coding Team. Specificity warnings, HCC capture rules, sequencing notes.
Injury codes require a 7th character: A (initial encounter, active treatment), D (subsequent, healing/recovery), S (sequela, late effect of original injury). Codes with fewer than 6 characters need the placeholder X to bring them to 6 characters before adding the 7th. Wrong or missing 7th character is the #1 cause of injury claim denials.
Type 2 Excludes
Not included here, the excluded code is not part of S03, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. Both codes may be coded together when applicable.
- Strain of muscle or tendon of head (S09.1)
Includes
- avulsion of joint (capsule) or ligament of head
- laceration of cartilage, joint (capsule) or ligament of head
- sprain of cartilage, joint (capsule) or ligament of head
- traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament of head
- traumatic rupture of joint or ligament of head
- traumatic subluxation of joint or ligament of head
- traumatic tear of joint or ligament of head
Coding Notes
Code Also
- any associated open wound
Seven Chr Note
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S03
Medicare LCD Coverage for S03
Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) from CMS MACs that list S03 as a covered diagnosis.
This doesn't mean the code isn't covered, it means no MAC has issued a Local Coverage Determination naming this specific code. Coverage may still apply under National Coverage Determinations or general medical-necessity rules.
Commercial Payer Coverage
Coverage policies from major commercial payers referencing S03.
1 Cigna
CPT Codes Commonly Billed with S03
Procedures frequently paired with this diagnosis based on PayerReady's Dx↔Px linkage data.
We don't have CPT pairings indexed for this specific code yet. Use the CPT search above to find common procedures, or check your payer's published medical policy for code-specific guidance.
Codes Adjacent To S03
Other codes in section S00-S09 (Injuries to the head).
ICD-10 S03, Billing FAQ
Is ICD-10 code S03 billable? +
No, S03 is a non-billable header code. Use a more specific child code from block S03 when submitting claims.
What codes are Type 2 Excludes for S03? +
Type 2 Excludes (may be coded together when both conditions exist): Strain of muscle or tendon of head (S09.1)
Get the full PayerReady toolkit
Free access to CPT/ICD-10 lookup, denial appeals, fee comparator, and claim auditing with credentialing enrollment.
Start free →Run this code through our claim audit tool
Check NCCI bundling, MUE limits, and modifier logic before submission.
Try the auditor →Did this page help?
Quick signal so we know what to improve.
If you want a code reference page that doesn't exist yet, email coding@payerready.com.
Tell us what's missing or wrong: coding@payerready.com. We respond within 5 business days.
Reviewed by the PayerReady Medical Coding Team
Verified against the CMS 2026 code set on June 2, 2026.
Powered by 11K CPT · 98K ICD-10 · 860K MPFS rates · 4.5M NCCI edits · 9.5M NPIs. Our data methodology · About our coding team