ICD-10 S23
Non-Billable HeaderDislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of thorax
About ICD-10-CM S23
ICD-10-CM code S23 represents Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of thorax. This is a non-billable header code in the Injury, Poisoning, and External Causes chapter (block S23). The 2026 edition of ICD-10-CM S23 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 S23
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 S23, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. Both codes may be coded together when applicable.
- dislocation, sprain of sternoclavicular joint (S43.2, S43.6)
- strain of muscle or tendon of thorax (S29.01-)
Includes
- avulsion of joint or ligament of thorax
- laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament of thorax
- sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament of thorax
- traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament of thorax
- traumatic rupture of joint or ligament of thorax
- traumatic subluxation of joint or ligament of thorax
- traumatic tear of joint or ligament of thorax
Coding Notes
Code Also
- any associated open wound
Seven Chr Note
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S23
Medicare LCD Coverage for S23
Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) from CMS MACs that list S23 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 S23.
2 Aetna
3 Cigna
CPT Codes Commonly Billed with S23
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 S23
Other codes in section S20-S29 (Injuries to the thorax).
ICD-10 S23, Billing FAQ
Is ICD-10 code S23 billable? +
No, S23 is a non-billable header code. Use a more specific child code from block S23 when submitting claims.
What codes are Type 2 Excludes for S23? +
Type 2 Excludes (may be coded together when both conditions exist): dislocation, sprain of sternoclavicular joint (S43.2, S43.6); strain of muscle or tendon of thorax (S29.01-)
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 1, 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