S53.122 vs S53.123

S53.122 (Posterior subluxation of left ulnohumeral joint) compared with S53.123 (Posterior subluxation of unspecified ulnohumeral joint), from the official CMS tabular data.

Summary

These codes name the same condition on opposite sides of the body, so the documented side decides which one applies.

MedCoder-derived

What is different?

Title wording.The titles differ in one word, “left” (S53.122) versus “unspecified” (S53.123): S53.122 is “Posterior subluxation of left ulnohumeral joint”; S53.123 is “Posterior subluxation of unspecified ulnohumeral joint”.

Registry fact

Can these codes be reported together?

One side per condition.S53.122 and S53.123 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.

MedCoder-derivedGuide: Laterality coding

Is there an Excludes1 relationship?

None.Neither entry carries an Excludes1 note that names the other code. S53.122 carries 1 Excludes1 note and S53.123 carries 1 Excludes1 note covering other codes; the side-by-side table quotes them.

Official rule

Is there an Excludes2 relationship?

None.Neither entry carries an Excludes2 note that names the other code. S53.122 carries 5 Excludes2 notes and S53.123 carries 5 Excludes2 notes covering other codes; the side-by-side table quotes them.

Official rule

Is one more specific?

Yes.S53.122’s title names the condition; S53.123’s title is the unspecified form (“Posterior subluxation of unspecified ulnohumeral joint”).

MedCoder-derivedGuide: Other vs unspecified (NEC vs NOS)

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?

Yes.Same condition, opposite side. S53.122 and S53.123 name the same condition on opposite sides of the body.

MedCoder-derivedGuide: Laterality coding

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?

Review

Laterality relationship

S53.122

Left

Posterior subluxation of left ulnohumeral joint

↔

S53.123

Unspecified

Posterior subluxation of unspecified ulnohumeral joint

What we found

Same condition, opposite side.S53.122 and S53.123 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.

What to review

Report the side the documentation names. Where the code set provides a bilateral code and both sides are documented, use it instead of the pair.

Guide: Laterality coding Check these on a claim

Why it matters

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 / rule

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

Official guidance behind these answers

Section I.B.13 — Laterality · applies to: Laterality
Some ICD-10-CM codes indicate laterality, specifying whether the condition occurs on the left, right or is bilateral. If no bilateral code is provided and the condition is bilateral, assign separate codes for both the left and right side. If the side is not identified in the medical record, assign the code for the unspecified side. When a patient has a bilateral condition and each side is treated during separate encounters, assign the "bilateral" code (as the condition still exists on both sides), including for the encounter to treat the first side. For the second encounter for treatment after one side has previously been treated and the condition no longer exists on that side, assign the appropriate unilateral code for the side where the condition still exists (e.g., cataract surgery performed on each eye in separate encounters). The bilateral code would not be assigned for the subsequent encounter, as the patient no longer has the condition in the previously-treated site. If the treatment on the first side did not completely resolve the condition, then the bilateral code would still be appropriate. When laterality is not documented by the patient’s provider, code assignment for the affected side may be based on medical record documentation from other clinicians. If there is conflicting medical record documentation regarding the affected side, the patient’s provider should be queried for clarification. […]
ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines FY2026

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

	S53.122Posterior subluxation of left ulnohumeral joint	S53.123Posterior subluxation of unspecified ulnohumeral joint
Billing status	Non-billable header Report instead: S53.122A, S53.122D, S53.122S	Non-billable header Report instead: S53.123A, S53.123D, S53.123S
Classification	S00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88)	S00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88)
Definition	Posterior subluxation of left ulnohumeral joint is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S53.122).	Posterior subluxation of unspecified ulnohumeral joint is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S53.123).
7th character	The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S53	The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S53
Includes	avulsion of joint or ligament of elbow laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament of elbow sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament of elbow traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament of elbow	avulsion of joint or ligament of elbow laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament of elbow sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament of elbow traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament of elbow
Excludes1	dislocation of radial head alone (S53.0-)	dislocation of radial head alone (S53.0-)
Excludes2	strain of muscle, fascia and tendon at forearm level (S56.-) burns and corrosions (T20-T32) frostbite (T33-T34) injuries of wrist and hand (S60-S69) insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)	strain of muscle, fascia and tendon at forearm level (S56.-) burns and corrosions (T20-T32) frostbite (T33-T34) injuries of wrist and hand (S60-S69) insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
Code also	any associated open wound	any associated open wound

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.

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Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). A coding-rule comparison, not billing advice: payer-specific edits and medical-necessity policy are outside its scope. All data sources