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    OpenPayerBilling CodesInjuries to the shoulder and upper armICD-10-CM s44-injury-of-nerves-shoulder-upper-arm
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    ICD-10-CM Code For Injury Of Nerves At Shoulder And Upper Arm Level: Group Overview

    The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group S44 includes traumatic injuries to nerves at the shoulder and upper arm level, such as brachial plexus lesions and isolated axillary, radial, musculocutaneous, or median nerve injuries. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document upper extremity nerve trauma, capturing injury location, laterality, and associated complications like open wound or subsequent encounters. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM S44 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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    ICD-10-CM S44: Injury Of Nerves At Shoulder And Upper Arm Level Overview

    The ICD-10-CM S44 group represents traumatic and specified injuries to nerves at the shoulder and upper arm level, including brachial plexus and individual nerve lesions. These diagnoses target peripheral nerve injuries affecting motor and sensory function in the upper limb. Accurate coding matters for complete clinical documentation and supports appropriate reimbursement by aligning reported injuries with the level and severity of nerve involvement.

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    When to Use

    Use a code from this group when a patient has a documented traumatic nerve injury at the shoulder or upper arm with specification of nerve involved and encounter type. Codes are applied for initial encounters, subsequent care, and sequelae as indicated by the clinical record.

    ICD-10-CM Codes

    72 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    S44.00XAInjury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, initial encounter
    S44.00XDInjury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter
    S44.00XSInjury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, sequela
    S44.01XAInjury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, right arm, initial encounter
    S44.01XDInjury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, right arm, subsequent encounter
    S44.01XSInjury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, right arm, sequela
    S44.02XAInjury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, left arm, initial encounter
    S44.02XDInjury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, left arm, subsequent encounter
    S44.02XSInjury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, left arm, sequela
    S44.10XAInjury of median nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, initial encounter
    S44.10XDInjury of median nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter
    S44.10XSInjury of median nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, sequela
    S44.11XAInjury of median nerve at upper arm level, right arm, initial encounter
    S44.11XDInjury of median nerve at upper arm level, right arm, subsequent encounter
    S44.11XSInjury of median nerve at upper arm level, right arm, sequela
    S44.12XAInjury of median nerve at upper arm level, left arm, initial encounter
    S44.12XDInjury of median nerve at upper arm level, left arm, subsequent encounter
    S44.12XSInjury of median nerve at upper arm level, left arm, sequela
    S44.20XAInjury of radial nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, initial encounter
    S44.20XDInjury of radial nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter

    Showing 1–20 of 72

    DRG Codes

    10 rows

    DRG CodeDescription
    073Cranial and Peripheral Nerve Disorders with MCC
    074Cranial and Peripheral Nerve Disorders without MCC
    091Other Disorders of Nervous System with MCC
    092Other Disorders of Nervous System with CC
    093Other Disorders of Nervous System without CC/MCC
    949Aftercare with CC/MCC
    950Aftercare without CC/MCC
    963Other Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC
    964Other Multiple Significant Trauma with CC
    965Other Multiple Significant Trauma without CC/MCC

    Typical Clinical Scenarios

    • A middle-aged construction worker presents to the emergency department after a fall from scaffolding with immediate severe shoulder pain, numbness over the lateral upper arm, and weakness when abducting the shoulder. On exam there is loss of sensation in the axillary nerve distribution and diminished deltoid contraction after the acute traumatic event, prompting imaging and nerve injury evaluation; an acute nerve injury code from this group is assigned for the initial encounter. Typical codes: S44.01XA, S44.11XA
    • An elderly patient months after a proximal humerus fracture treated operatively reports persistent numbness and burning pain along the posterior arm with progressive motor weakness; clinical notes document a delayed-onset iatrogenic neuropathy suspected from surgical handling or scar entrapment. This chronic, sequelae-type presentation during follow-up is coded as a subsequent encounter or sequela code from the group to capture the ongoing nerve dysfunction related to the prior injury and surgery. Typical codes: S44.01XD, S44.11XD
    • A young adult presents to clinic with a known brachial plexus stretch injury sustained in a motor vehicle collision; initial acute management occurred elsewhere and now the patient requires evaluation for persistent sensory deficits and consideration for nerve repair. Because the visit is for ongoing care after the initial encounter or for sequelae, a specified later-encounter or sequela code from the group is used to indicate continuing nerve injury at the shoulder/upper arm level. Typical codes: S44.01XS, S44.11XS

    Related Codes

    S40-SUPERFICIAL-INJURY-OF-SHOULDER-AND-UPPER-ARM

    ICD-10-CM Code For Superficial Injury Of Shoulder And Upper Arm: Group Overview

    S41-OPEN-WOUND-OF-SHOULDER-AND-UPPER-ARM

    ICD-10-CM Code For Open Wound Of Shoulder And Upper Arm: Group Overview

    S42-FRACTURE-OF-SHOULDER-AND-UPPER-ARM

    ICD-10-CM Code For Fracture Of Shoulder And Upper Arm: Group Overview

    S43-DISLOCATION-AND-SPRAIN-SHOULDER-GIRDLE

    ICD-10-CM Code For Dislocation And Sprain Of Joints And Ligaments Of Shoulder Girdle: Group Overview

    S45-INJURY-OF-BLOOD-VESSELS-SHOULDER-UPPER-ARM

    ICD-10-CM Code For Injury Of Blood Vessels At Shoulder And Upper Arm Level: Group Overview

    S46-INJURY-OF-MUSCLE-FASCIA-AND-TENDON

    ICD-10-CM Code For Injury Of Muscle Fascia And Tendon At Shoulder And Upper Arm Level: Group Overview

    S47-CRUSHING-INJURY-OF-SHOULDER

    ICD-10-CM Code For Crushing Injury Of Shoulder And Upper Arm: Group Overview

    S48-TRAUMATIC-AMPUTATION-SHOULDER-UPPER-ARM

    ICD-10-CM Code For Traumatic Amputation Of Shoulder And Upper Arm: Group Overview

    S49-OTHER-AND-UNSPECIFIED-SHOULDER-INJURIES

    ICD-10-CM Code For Other And Unspecified Injuries Of Shoulder And Upper Arm: Group Overview

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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