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S43.50 vs S43.51

S43.50 (Sprain of unspecified acromioclavicular joint) compared with S43.51 (Sprain of right acromioclavicular joint), from the official CMS tabular data. S43.50 and S43.51 code the same condition on opposite sides. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

S43.50
Unspecified
Sprain of unspecified acromioclavicular joint
S43.51
Right
Sprain of right acromioclavicular joint

Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.

These codes share a category and title and differ only in the side affected. The documentation decides which applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Source: ICD-10-CM tabular list (laterality variant derived from the code title)

Can these codes be reported together?

Same condition, opposite side. S43.50 and S43.51 name the same condition on opposite sides of the body.

Same category and title, differing only in which side is affected — the documentation decides which one applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Side by side

S43.50Sprain of unspecified acromioclavicular jointS43.51Sprain of right acromioclavicular joint
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: S43.50XA, S43.50XD, S43.50XS

Non-billable header

Report instead: S43.51XA, S43.51XD, S43.51XS

ClassificationS00-T88 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causesS00-T88 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
DefinitionSprain of unspecified acromioclavicular joint is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S43.50).Sprain of right acromioclavicular joint is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S43.51).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S43The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S43
Includes
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
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

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