S22 is the authoritative medical code for Fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine. This classification is used in medical billing and clinical recording to specify the clinical criteria for fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine (ICD-10-CM S22), 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 rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code S22. A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission. Includes: fracture of thoracic neural arch; fracture of thoracic spinous process; fracture of thoracic transverse process; fracture of thoracic vertebra; fracture of thoracic vertebral arch; injuries of breast; injuries of chest wall; injuries of interscapular area. Excludes1 (not coded here): transection of thorax S28.1. Excludes2 (not included here): fracture of clavicle S42.0-; fracture of scapula S42.1-; burns and corrosions T20-T32; effects of foreign body in bronchus T17.5; effects of foreign body in esophagus T18.1; effects of foreign body in lung T17.8; effects of foreign body in trachea T17.4; frostbite T33-T34; injuries of axilla; injuries of clavicle; injuries of scapular region; injuries of shoulder; insect bite or sting, venomous T63.4. Code also: , if applicable, any associated condition such as:; injury of intrathoracic organ S27.-; spinal cord injury (S24.0-, S24.1-); traumatic hemopneumothorax S27.2; traumatic hemothorax S27.1-; traumatic pneumothorax S27.0. 7th character: The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S22.
Official Tabular Instructional Notes
Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S22 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.
Includes
Conditions the official ICD-10-CM tabular list includes under this code.
- fracture of thoracic neural arch
- fracture of thoracic spinous process
- fracture of thoracic transverse process
- fracture of thoracic vertebra
- fracture of thoracic vertebral arch
- injuries of breast
- injuries of chest wall
- injuries of interscapular area
Excludes1 — Not Coded Here
Conditions that can never be reported with this code; the two are mutually exclusive.
- transection of thorax S28.1
Excludes2 — Not Included Here
Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.
- fracture of clavicle S42.0-
- fracture of scapula S42.1-
- burns and corrosions T20-T32
- effects of foreign body in bronchus T17.5
- effects of foreign body in esophagus T18.1
- effects of foreign body in lung T17.8
- effects of foreign body in trachea T17.4
- frostbite T33-T34
- injuries of axilla
- injuries of clavicle
- injuries of scapular region
- injuries of shoulder
- insect bite or sting, venomous T63.4
Code First
Underlying conditions that must be sequenced before this code.
- , if applicable, spinal cord injury (S24.0-, S24.1-)
Code Also
Additional codes that may be required to fully describe the encounter.
- , if applicable, any associated condition such as:
- injury of intrathoracic organ S27.-
- spinal cord injury (S24.0-, S24.1-)
- traumatic hemopneumothorax S27.2
- traumatic hemothorax S27.1-
- traumatic pneumothorax S27.0
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
Can S22 be billed directly?
No. S22 (Fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.
Does S22 require a 7th character?
Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S22; A: initial encounter for closed fracture; B: initial encounter for open fracture; D: subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing; G: subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing; K: subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion; S: sequela.
What can't be coded together with S22?
Per Excludes1 instructions, S22 must not be reported with: transection of thorax (S28.1).
Can S22 be reported alongside related conditions?
Per Excludes2 instructions, S22 and the following may both be reported when both are present: fracture of clavicle (S42.0-); fracture of scapula (S42.1-); burns and corrosions (T20-T32); effects of foreign body in bronchus (T17.5).
Does S22 need to be sequenced after another code?
Yes. Code first: , if applicable, spinal cord injury (S24.0-, S24.1-).
Codes in This Family (40)
Official ICD-10-CM classifications in the same code family as S22, with their registry titles.
- S22.0 — Fracture of thoracic vertebra
- S22.000 — Wedge compression fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra
- S22.000A — Wedge compression fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture
- S22.000B — Wedge compression fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, initial encounter for open fracture
- S22.000D — Wedge compression fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- S22.000G — Wedge compression fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- S22.000K — Wedge compression fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- S22.000S — Wedge compression fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, sequela
- S22.001 — Stable burst fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra
- S22.001A — Stable burst fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture
- S22.001B — Stable burst fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, initial encounter for open fracture
- S22.001D — Stable burst fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- S22.001G — Stable burst fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- S22.001K — Stable burst fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- S22.001S — Stable burst fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, sequela
- S22.002 — Unstable burst fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra
- S22.002A — Unstable burst fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture
- S22.002B — Unstable burst fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, initial encounter for open fracture
- S22.002D — Unstable burst fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- S22.002G — Unstable burst fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- S22.002K — Unstable burst fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- S22.002S — Unstable burst fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, sequela
- S22.008 — Other fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra
- S22.008A — Other fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture
- S22.008B — Other fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, initial encounter for open fracture
- S22.008D — Other fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- S22.008G — Other fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- S22.008K — Other fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- S22.008S — Other fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, sequela
- S22.009 — Unspecified fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra
- S22.009A — Unspecified fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture
- S22.009B — Unspecified fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, initial encounter for open fracture
- S22.009D — Unspecified fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- S22.009G — Unspecified fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- S22.009K — Unspecified fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- S22.009S — Unspecified fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, sequela
- S22.010 — Wedge compression fracture of first thoracic vertebra
- S22.010A — Wedge compression fracture of first thoracic vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture
- S22.010B — Wedge compression fracture of first thoracic vertebra, initial encounter for open fracture
- S22.010D — Wedge compression fracture of first thoracic vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
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 S19
Other specified and unspecified injuries of neck
ICD Code S23
Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of thorax
ICD Code S24
Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level
ICD Code S27
Injury of other and unspecified intrathoracic organs