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S53.21XA vs S53.22XA

S53.21XA (Traumatic rupture of right radial collateral ligament, initial encounter) compared with S53.22XA (Traumatic rupture of left radial collateral ligament, initial encounter), from the official CMS tabular data. S53.21XA and S53.22XA code the same condition on opposite sides. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

S53.21XA
Right
Traumatic rupture of right radial collateral ligament, initial encounter
S53.22XA
Left
Traumatic rupture of left radial collateral ligament, initial encounter

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. S53.21XA and S53.22XA 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

S53.21XATraumatic rupture of right radial collateral ligament, initial encounterS53.22XATraumatic rupture of left radial collateral ligament, initial encounter
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationS00-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)
DefinitionTraumatic rupture of right radial collateral ligament, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S53.21XA).Traumatic rupture of left radial collateral ligament, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S53.22XA).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S53The 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

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