2025 ICD-10-CM code S24.1
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Injury - Other and unspecified injuries of thoracic spinal cord Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88) Feed
Other and unspecified injuries of the thoracic spinal cord.
Modifiers may apply depending on the circumstances of the encounter (e.g., place of service, type of provider). Consult appropriate coding guidelines.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of objective findings consistent with a thoracic spinal cord injury, such as neurological deficits, pain, imaging evidence of damage.
Diagnosis is based on patient history, physical examination, neurological tests (e.g., reflexes, sensation, muscle strength), imaging studies (X-ray, MRI, CT scan). Treatment may include pain management (analgesics), infection control (antibiotics), wound care, and potentially surgical intervention depending on the severity and type of injury.
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- S20-S29 (Injuries to the thorax)
In simple words: This code describes injuries to the middle part of the spine in the chest area that aren't specifically described.It could include breaks, problems with the discs between the vertebrae, or other damage. Doctors use this code if they don't have enough information to use a more specific code.
This ICD-10-CM code classifies other and unspecified injuries to the thoracic spinal cord.These injuries may include fractures, degenerative disc disease, or other unspecified damage. The code is used when the specific nature of the injury is not documented or cannot be otherwise specified with a more precise code.Associated conditions such as fracture of the thoracic vertebra (S22.-), open wound of the thorax (S21.-), or transient paralysis (R29.5) should be coded separately.
Example 1: A patient presents after a fall from a height, experiencing back pain and numbness in their lower extremities. Imaging reveals a compression fracture of a thoracic vertebra and an unspecified injury to the thoracic spinal cord.Codes S22.- and S24.1 would be used., A patient is involved in a motor vehicle accident.They have pain and weakness in their chest and abdomen. Imaging shows no fractures, but there is evidence of unspecified injury to the spinal cord.S24.1 is used to report this., A patient undergoes a biopsy of a thoracic spinal lesion, after which there is noted unexpected damage to the thoracic spinal cord. Because the nature of the damage is not specified, code S24.1 is used.
Detailed patient history including mechanism of injury, physical examination findings (neurological exam), imaging reports (X-rays, MRI, CT scans), operative reports if applicable.
** This code should be used cautiously.Always attempt to code to a more specific level if the clinical documentation supports it.Accurate coding requires detailed and well-documented clinical information.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Neurology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Office, Emergency Room - Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center