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S23.130 vs S43.2

S23.130 (Subluxation of T4/T5 thoracic vertebra) compared with S43.2 (Subluxation and dislocation of sternoclavicular joint), from the official CMS tabular data.

Current data releases:ICD-10-CM FY2027 · ICD-10-PCS FY2027 · HCPCS October 2026 · MS-DRG v44 · Medicare Code Editor v44.0 · NCCI PTP Q4 2026 · MUE Q4 2026 · NCD code lists 2026-01 · LCD export September 28, 2026 · All releases and sources

Summary

These codes can be reported together when both conditions are documented, because S23.130 lists S43.2 under Excludes2, which marks them as distinct conditions.

Official rule
What is different?

The conditions named.S23.130 is “Subluxation of T4/T5 thoracic vertebra”; S43.2 is “Subluxation and dislocation of sternoclavicular joint”.

Registry fact

Can these codes be reported together?

Yes, when both are documented.S23.130 lists S43.2 under Excludes2: “dislocation, sprain of sternoclavicular joint (S43.2, S43.6)”. Excludes2 marks distinct conditions that may both be reported when both are documented.

Official ruleGuide: Excludes1 vs Excludes2

Is there an Excludes1 relationship?

None.Neither entry carries an Excludes1 note that names the other code.

Official rule

Is there an Excludes2 relationship?

Yes.S23.130’s tabular entry: “dislocation, sprain of sternoclavicular joint (S43.2, S43.6)”. The note covers S43.2.

Official ruleGuide: Excludes1 vs Excludes2

Is one more specific?

Not comparable.The codes sit in different categories; specificity is only comparable within one category.

Is one a parent or header code?

Both are headers.Both are non-billable headers, and neither contains the other.

Registry fact

Are there sequencing instructions?

None.Neither entry carries a Code First or Use Additional Code note that names the other.

Official rule

Are there other coding relationships?

None found.No laterality, encounter-phase, Table of Neoplasms, Table of Drugs and Chemicals, or history-versus-active-disease relationship links these codes.

MedCoder-derived

Official rule: a tabular instructional note or a section of the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, quoted as published. Registry fact: the codes’ own published attributes (titles, billable status, position in the hierarchy, code set). MedCoder-derived: a reading MedCoder computes from those facts; it is not itself a rule. How to read the labels

Can these codes be reported together?

Informational

Excludes2 relationship

S23.130
Subluxation of T4/T5 thoracic vertebra
↔
S43.2
Subluxation and dislocation of sternoclavicular joint

What we found

Yes, when both are documented.S23.130 carries an Excludes2 note covering S43.2: “dislocation, sprain of sternoclavicular joint (S43.2, S43.6)”

Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.

What to review

Report both only when the documentation supports both conditions; otherwise report the one documented.

Guide: Excludes1 vs Excludes2Check these on a claim

Why it matters

An Excludes2 note means the excluded condition is not part of the code above it, but a patient can have both. Report both when both are documented.

Source / rule

CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes

Official guidance behind these answers

  • Section I.A.12.b — Excludes2 · applies to: Excludes2

    A type 2 Excludes note represents “Not included here.” An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.

    ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines FY2027

Quoted from the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting in effect for the release shown. The tabular notes above are the code-level instruction; these sections are the convention that says how such a note is applied. Source document (CMS PDF) · Release and checksum

Side by side

Similar descriptions do not make codes interchangeable. The documentation and the official instructions decide which code applies.

Official descriptionDiffers
S23.130

Subluxation of T4/T5 thoracic vertebra

S43.2

Subluxation and dislocation of sternoclavicular joint

StatusDiffers
S23.130
Non-billable header

A header is not reported on a claim; a code beneath it is.

Report instead: S23.130A, S23.130D, S23.130S

S43.2
Non-billable header

A header is not reported on a claim; a code beneath it is.

Report instead: S43.201A, S43.201D, S43.201S, S43.202A, S43.202D

Excludes2Differs
S23.130
  • fracture of thoracic vertebrae (S22.0-)
  • dislocation, sprain of sternoclavicular joint (S43.2, S43.6)
  • strain of muscle or tendon of thorax (S29.01-)
  • 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
  • insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
S43.2
  • strain of muscle, fascia and tendon of shoulder and upper arm (S46.-)
  • burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
  • frostbite (T33-T34)
  • injuries of elbow (S50-S59)
  • insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
Code alsoDiffers
S23.130
  • any associated:
  • open wound of thorax (S21.-)
  • spinal cord injury (S24.0-, S24.1-)
  • any associated open wound
S43.2
  • any associated open wound
CategoryDiffers
S23.130

S23 Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of thorax

S43.2

S43 Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of shoulder girdle

ChapterSame for both

S00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88)

IncludesDiffers
S23.130
  • 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
S43.2
  • avulsion of joint or ligament of shoulder girdle
  • laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament of shoulder girdle
  • sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament of shoulder girdle
  • traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament of shoulder girdle
7th characterDiffers
S23.130
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S23
S43.2
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S43

No Excludes1, Code first and Use additional code note at either code.

Notes are the code’s own tabular entry, quoted as published. A note that names the other code is the one the verdict above rests on. In a row that differs, notes every code shares are dimmed.

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Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2027). A coding-rule comparison, not billing advice: payer-specific edits and medical-necessity policy are outside its scope. All data sources