2025 ICD-10-CM code S24
Injury of nerves and spinal cord at the thorax level.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of a traumatic injury or other event causing damage to the thoracic spinal cord, resulting in significant functional impairment. Further treatment, including physical therapy, medication, and surgery, is justified based on the individual's specific needs and potential for recovery.
Providers diagnose thoracic spinal cord injuries based on medical history, physical examination, and imaging studies like X-rays, CT scans, and MRI. Treatment may involve medication for pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms, as well as physical therapy, bracing, or surgery.
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- Injuries to the thorax (S20-S29)
In simple words: This code represents an injury to the nerves and spinal cord in the thoracic region of your back. This area is the middle part of your back, where your ribs attach.These injuries can cause problems with feeling and movement in your body below the injury level.
Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level. Code to the highest level of thoracic spinal cord injury. Injuries to the spinal cord (S24.0 and S24.1) refer to the cord level and not bone level injury, and can affect nerve roots at and below the level given. Code also any associated fracture of thoracic vertebra (S22.0-), open wound of thorax (S21.-), and transient paralysis (R29.5).
Example 1: A patient falls from a height, fracturing a thoracic vertebra and damaging the spinal cord at T4, resulting in paraplegia., A patient is involved in a motor vehicle accident, sustaining an injury to the spinal cord at T10, causing loss of sensation and mobility in the lower extremities and bowel/bladder dysfunction., A patient undergoes surgery and experiences a surgical error leading to damage of the thoracic spinal cord and associated nerves resulting in loss of motor and sensory function below the level of injury.
Documentation should include details of the injury mechanism, neurological examination findings (sensory and motor function, reflexes), imaging results specifying the level and extent of spinal cord involvement, and associated injuries like fractures or open wounds.
** Excludes1: birth trauma (P10-P15), obstetric trauma (O70-O71). Excludes2: burns and corrosions (T20-T32), effects of foreign body in bronchus (T17.5), effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1), effects of foreign body in lung (T17.8), effects of foreign body in trachea (T17.4), frostbite (T33-T34), injuries of axilla, injuries of clavicle, injuries of scapular region, injuries of shoulder, and insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4).
- Specialties:Neurology, Orthopedic Surgery, Trauma Surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Physician's Office