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S63.426A vs S63.426S

S63.426A (Traumatic rupture of palmar ligament of right little finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, initial encounter) compared with S63.426S (Traumatic rupture of palmar ligament of right little finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, sequela), from the official CMS tabular data. S63.426A and S63.426S code the same injury at a different phase of treatment. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Encounter relationship

S63.426A
Initial encounter
Traumatic rupture of palmar ligament of right little finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, initial encounter
S63.426S
Sequela
Traumatic rupture of palmar ligament of right little 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. S63.426A and S63.426S 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

S63.426ATraumatic rupture of palmar ligament of right little finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, initial encounterS63.426STraumatic rupture of palmar ligament of right little finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, sequela
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationS00-T88 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causesS00-T88 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
DefinitionTraumatic rupture of palmar ligament of right little finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S63.426A).Traumatic rupture of palmar ligament of right little finger at metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint, sequela is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S63.426S).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S63The 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

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