S20.94 ICD-10-CM Code: External constriction of unspecified parts of thorax
Billing Status: NO. This is a clinician non-billable / parent hierarchy grouping in the ICD-10-CM system.
Official Registry Overview & Definition
Official Tabular Instructional Notes
Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S20.94 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.
Includes
Conditions the official ICD-10-CM tabular list includes under this code.
- injuries of breast
- injuries of chest (wall)
- injuries of interscapular area
Excludes1 — Not Coded Here
Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
- contusion of thorax NOS (S20.20) Compare S20.94 vs S20.20 →
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) Compare S20.94 vs T20 →
- effects of foreign body in bronchus (T17.5) Compare S20.94 vs T17.5 →
- effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1) Compare S20.94 vs T18.1 →
- effects of foreign body in lung (T17.8) Compare S20.94 vs T17.8 →
- effects of foreign body in trachea (T17.4) Compare S20.94 vs T17.4 →
- frostbite (T33-T34) Compare S20.94 vs T33 →
- injuries of axilla
- injuries of clavicle
- injuries of scapular region
- injuries of shoulder
- insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4) Compare S20.94 vs T63.4 →
Indexed Clinical Terms (1)
Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code.
- Constriction, external, thorax, thoracic (wall)
Frequently Compared Codes
The official Excludes notes on S20.94 name these codes. Each comparison page covers when the two can — or must not — be reported together.
Change history
No changes recorded for this code — unchanged since the FY2016 baseline of the change ledger.
Verify Before Coding
- Not billable as written — a more specific code is required: S20.94XA, S20.94XD, S20.94XS.
- Requires a 7th character. "The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S20" Options: S20.94XA, S20.94XD, S20.94XS
From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim.
Contextual Map
Every relationship of S20.94 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.
Hierarchy
- S00-T88 — Chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88) (S00-T88) [Hierarchy]
Index entries
- Constriction, external, thorax, thoracic (wall)[Index term]
Nearest codes (40)
- S20 — Superficial injury of thorax [Sibling]
- S20.471 — Other superficial bite of right back wall of thorax [Sibling]
- S20.471A — Other superficial bite of right back wall of thorax, initial encounter [Sibling]
- S20.471D — Other superficial bite of right back wall of thorax, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
- S20.471S — Other superficial bite of right back wall of thorax, sequela [Sibling]
- S20.472 — Other superficial bite of left back wall of thorax [Sibling]
- S20.472A — Other superficial bite of left back wall of thorax, initial encounter [Sibling]
- S20.472D — Other superficial bite of left back wall of thorax, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
- and 32 more
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
Can S20.94 be billed directly?
No. S20.94 (External constriction of unspecified parts of thorax) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.
Does S20.94 require a 7th character?
Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S20.
Nearest Codes in This Family
Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S20.94 in its code family, with their registry titles.
- S20.91XS — Abrasion of unspecified parts of thorax, sequela
- S20.92 — Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified parts of thorax
- S20.92XA — Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified parts of thorax, initial encounter
- S20.92XD — Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified parts of thorax, subsequent encounter
- S20.92XS — Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified parts of thorax, sequela
- S20.94XA — External constriction of unspecified parts of thorax, initial encounter
- S20.94XD — External constriction of unspecified parts of thorax, subsequent encounter
- S20.94XS — External constriction of unspecified parts of thorax, sequela
- S20.95 — Superficial foreign body of unspecified parts of thorax
- S20.95XA — Superficial foreign body of unspecified parts of thorax, initial encounter