S12.0 is the authoritative medical code for Fracture of first cervical vertebra. This classification is used in medical billing and clinical recording to specify the clinical criteria for fracture of first cervical vertebra (ICD-10-CM S12.0), ensuring healthcare documentation aligns with 2026 federal coding standards.
Billing Status: NO. This is a clinician non-billable / parent hierarchy grouping in the ICD-10-CM system.
Official Registry Overview & Definition
Fracture of first cervical vertebra is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code S12.0. A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission. Includes: fracture of cervical neural arch; fracture of cervical spine; fracture of cervical spinous process; fracture of cervical transverse process; fracture of cervical vertebral arch; fracture of neck; injuries of nape; injuries of supraclavicular region; injuries of throat. Inclusion terms: Atlas. Excludes2 (not included here): burns and corrosions T20-T32; effects of foreign body in esophagus T18.1; effects of foreign body in larynx T17.3; effects of foreign body in pharynx T17.2; effects of foreign body in trachea T17.4; frostbite T33-T34; insect bite or sting, venomous T63.4. Code first: any associated cervical spinal cord injury (S14.0, S14.1-). 7th character: The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from subcategories S12.0-S12.6.
Official Tabular Instructional Notes
Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S12.0 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.
Includes
Conditions the official ICD-10-CM tabular list includes under this code.
- fracture of cervical neural arch
- fracture of cervical spine
- fracture of cervical spinous process
- fracture of cervical transverse process
- fracture of cervical vertebral arch
- fracture of neck
- injuries of nape
- injuries of supraclavicular region
- injuries of throat
Inclusion Terms
Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.
Excludes2 — Not Included Here
Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.
- burns and corrosions T20-T32
- effects of foreign body in esophagus T18.1
- effects of foreign body in larynx T17.3
- effects of foreign body in pharynx T17.2
- effects of foreign body in trachea T17.4
- frostbite T33-T34
- insect bite or sting, venomous T63.4
Code First
Underlying conditions that must be sequenced before this code.
- any associated cervical spinal cord injury (S14.0, S14.1-)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
Can S12.0 be billed directly?
No. S12.0 (Fracture of first cervical vertebra) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.
Does S12.0 require a 7th character?
Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from subcategories S12.0-S12.6.
Can S12.0 be reported alongside related conditions?
Per Excludes2 instructions, S12.0 and the following may both be reported when both are present: burns and corrosions (T20-T32); effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1); effects of foreign body in larynx (T17.3); effects of foreign body in pharynx (T17.2).
Does S12.0 need to be sequenced after another code?
Yes. Code first: any associated cervical spinal cord injury (S14.0, S14.1-).
What conditions are included under S12.0?
Fracture of first cervical vertebra includes: Atlas.
Codes in This Family (40)
Official ICD-10-CM classifications in the same code family as S12.0, with their registry titles.
- S12.000 — Unspecified displaced fracture of first cervical vertebra
- S12.000A — Unspecified displaced fracture of first cervical vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture
- S12.000B — Unspecified displaced fracture of first cervical vertebra, initial encounter for open fracture
- S12.000D — Unspecified displaced fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- S12.000G — Unspecified displaced fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- S12.000K — Unspecified displaced fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- S12.000S — Unspecified displaced fracture of first cervical vertebra, sequela
- S12.001 — Unspecified nondisplaced fracture of first cervical vertebra
- S12.001A — Unspecified nondisplaced fracture of first cervical vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture
- S12.001B — Unspecified nondisplaced fracture of first cervical vertebra, initial encounter for open fracture
- S12.001D — Unspecified nondisplaced fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- S12.001G — Unspecified nondisplaced fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- S12.001K — Unspecified nondisplaced fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- S12.001S — Unspecified nondisplaced fracture of first cervical vertebra, sequela
- S12.01A — Stable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture
- S12.01B — Stable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra, initial encounter for open fracture
- S12.01D — Stable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- S12.01G — Stable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- S12.01K — Stable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- S12.01S — Stable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra, sequela
- S12.02A — Unstable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture
- S12.02B — Unstable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra, initial encounter for open fracture
- S12.02D — Unstable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- S12.02G — Unstable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- S12.02K — Unstable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- S12.02S — Unstable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra, sequela
- S12.030 — Displaced posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra
- S12.030A — Displaced posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture
- S12.030B — Displaced posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra, initial encounter for open fracture
- S12.030D — Displaced posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- S12.030G — Displaced posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- S12.030K — Displaced posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- S12.030S — Displaced posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra, sequela
- S12.031 — Nondisplaced posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra
- S12.031A — Nondisplaced posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture
- S12.031B — Nondisplaced posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra, initial encounter for open fracture
- S12.031D — Nondisplaced posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- S12.031G — Nondisplaced posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- S12.031K — Nondisplaced posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- S12.031S — Nondisplaced posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra, sequela
Related Codes & Numerical Sequence (Crawl Map)
Search engines and indexers are advised to traverse adjacent medical codes in this sub-chapter range to find correlated diagnoses or therapeutic procedures:
ICD Code S09.0
Injury of blood vessels of head, not elsewhere classified