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S42.125A vs S42.125S

S42.125A (Nondisplaced fracture of acromial process, left shoulder, initial encounter for closed fracture) compared with S42.125S (Nondisplaced fracture of acromial process, left shoulder, sequela), from the official CMS tabular data. S42.125A and S42.125S code the same injury at a different phase of treatment. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Encounter relationship

S42.125A
Initial encounter
Nondisplaced fracture of acromial process, left shoulder, initial encounter for closed fracture
S42.125S
Sequela
Nondisplaced fracture of acromial process, left shoulder, sequela

Same underlying diagnosis, different encounter phase.

The 7th character records the phase of care for the encounter being coded, so a single encounter takes one of these characters, not several. Review whether both phases belong on the same episode of care.

Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.C.19.a

Can these codes be reported together?

Same injury, other encounter phase. S42.125A and S42.125S code the same injury at a different phase of treatment, set by the 7th character.

The 7th character records the type of care given at the encounter being coded (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.C.19.a), so one encounter takes one of these, not both.

Side by side

S42.125ANondisplaced fracture of acromial process, left shoulder, initial encounter for closed fractureS42.125SNondisplaced fracture of acromial process, left shoulder, sequela
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationS00-T88 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causesS00-T88 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
DefinitionNondisplaced fracture of acromial process, left shoulder, initial encounter for closed fracture is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S42.125A).Nondisplaced fracture of acromial process, left shoulder, sequela is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S42.125S).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from category S42The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from category S42
Includes
injuries of axilla
injuries of scapular region
injuries of axilla
injuries of scapular region

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources