Orthopedic Coding Alert

Question: Which are the best ICD-10 codes do you report for sprain in cervical region?

New Mexico Subscriber

Answer:  You have an ICD-10 code for neck sprain using S13 (Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments at neck level). This code includes:

• Avulsion of joint or ligament at neck level
• Laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament at neck level
• Sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament at neck level
• Traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament at neck level
• Traumatic rupture of joint or ligament at neck level
• Traumatic subluxation of joint or ligament at neck level
• Traumatic tear of joint or ligament at neck level. 

You also have codes further on for other parts of the cervical regions such as:

• S13.4xx_, Sprain of ligaments of cervical spine
• S13.5xx_, Sprain of thyroid region
• S13.8xx_, Sprain of joints and ligaments of other parts of neck.

In ICD-9, neck sprain and strain had a common code: 847.0 (Neck sprain) under category 847 (Sprains and strains of other and unspecified parts of back).