S63.421A vs S63.421S

S63.421A (Traumatic rupture of palmar ligament of left index finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, initial encounter) compared with S63.421S (Traumatic rupture of palmar ligament of left index finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, sequela), from the official CMS tabular data. S63.421A and S63.421S code the same injury at a different phase of treatment.

Relationship

Review

Encounter relationship

S63.421A

Initial encounter

Traumatic rupture of palmar ligament of left index finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, initial encounter

↔

S63.421S

Sequela

Traumatic rupture of palmar ligament of left index finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, 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. S63.421A and S63.421S 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

	S63.421ATraumatic rupture of palmar ligament of left index finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, initial encounter	S63.421STraumatic rupture of palmar ligament of left index finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, sequela
Billing status	Billable	Billable
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	Traumatic rupture of palmar ligament of left index finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S63.421A).	Traumatic rupture of palmar ligament of left index finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, sequela is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S63.421S).
7th character	The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S63	The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S63
Includes	avulsion of joint or ligament at wrist and hand level laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament at wrist and hand level sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament at wrist and hand level traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament at wrist and hand level	avulsion of joint or ligament at wrist and hand level laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament at wrist and hand level sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament at wrist and hand level traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament at wrist and hand level

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