S22.20 — Unspecified fracture of sternum

Billing Status: NO. This is a clinician non-billable / parent hierarchy grouping in the ICD-10-CM system.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Unspecified fracture of sternum is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S22.20). A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission.

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S22.20 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 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).

transection of thorax (S28.1) Compare S22.20 vs 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-) Compare S22.20 vs S42.0 →
fracture of scapula (S42.1-) Compare S22.20 vs S42.1 →
burns and corrosions (T20-T32) Compare S22.20 vs T20 →
effects of foreign body in bronchus (T17.5) Compare S22.20 vs T17.5 →
effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1) Compare S22.20 vs T18.1 →
effects of foreign body in lung (T17.8) Compare S22.20 vs T17.8 →
effects of foreign body in trachea (T17.4) Compare S22.20 vs T17.4 →
frostbite (T33-T34) Compare S22.20 vs T33 →
injuries of axilla
injuries of clavicle
injuries of scapular region
injuries of shoulder
insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4) Compare S22.20 vs T63.4 →

Code First

Underlying conditions that must be sequenced before this code.

Code first, if applicable, spinal cord injury (S24.0-, S24.1-)

Code Also

Additional codes that may be required to fully describe the encounter.

Code also, if applicable, any associated condition such as:
injury of intrathoracic organ (S27.-)
traumatic hemopneumothorax (S27.2)
traumatic hemothorax (S27.1-)
traumatic pneumothorax (S27.0)

Frequently Compared Codes

The official Excludes notes on S22.20 name these codes. Each comparison page covers when the two can — or must not — be reported together.

Change history

FY2027 — 2026-10-01
Code First note added
, if applicable, spinal cord injury (S24.0-, S24.1-)
FY2027 changes
FY2027 — 2026-10-01
Code Also note removed
spinal cord injury (S24.0-, S24.1-)
FY2027 changes

Verify Before Coding

Not billable as written — a more specific code is required: S22.20XA, S22.20XB, S22.20XD, S22.20XG, S22.20XK.
Requires a 7th character. "The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S22" Options: S22.20XA, S22.20XB, S22.20XD, S22.20XG, S22.20XK, S22.20XS

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 S22.20 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]

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

M48.5 — Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified [Excludes1](via S22.-): “traumatic fracture of vertebra (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-)” · check together
M84.3 — Stress fracture [Excludes1](via S22.-): “traumatic fracture (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-, S42.-, S52.-, S62.-, S72.-, S82.-, S92.-)” · check together
M84.4 — Pathological fracture, not elsewhere classified [Excludes1](via S22.-): “traumatic fracture (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-, S42.-, S52.-, S62.-, S72.-, S82.-, S92.-)” · check together

Index entries

Fracture, traumatic (abduction) (adduction) (separation), sternum[Index term]
Fracture, traumatic (abduction) (adduction) (separation), thorax (bony), sternum[Index term]

Nearest codes (40)

S22 — Fracture of rib(s), sternum and thoracic spine [Sibling]
S22.082B — Unstable burst fracture of T11-T12 vertebra, initial encounter for open fracture [Sibling]
S22.082D — Unstable burst fracture of T11-T12 vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing [Sibling]
S22.082G — Unstable burst fracture of T11-T12 vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing [Sibling]
S22.082K — Unstable burst fracture of T11-T12 vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion [Sibling]
S22.082S — Unstable burst fracture of T11-T12 vertebra, sequela [Sibling]
S22.088 — Other fracture of T11-T12 vertebra [Sibling]
S22.088A — Other fracture of T11-T12 vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture [Sibling]
and 32 more

Change history (2)

FY2027 — Code First note added [Change history]
and 1 more

Referenced by Other Codes

Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes on other codes that name S22.20 or its code family.

3 Excludes1 notes: M48.5 (via S22.-), M84.3 (via S22.-), M84.4 (via S22.-).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance

Can S22.20 be billed directly?

No. S22.20 (Unspecified fracture of sternum) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.

Does S22.20 require a 7th character?

Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S22.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S22.20 in its code family, with their registry titles.

S22.089D — Unspecified fracture of T11-T12 vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
S22.089G — Unspecified fracture of T11-T12 vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
S22.089K — Unspecified fracture of T11-T12 vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
S22.089S — Unspecified fracture of T11-T12 vertebra, sequela
S22.2 — Fracture of sternum
S22.20XA — Unspecified fracture of sternum, initial encounter for closed fracture
S22.20XB — Unspecified fracture of sternum, initial encounter for open fracture
S22.20XD — Unspecified fracture of sternum, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
S22.20XG — Unspecified fracture of sternum, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
S22.20XK — Unspecified fracture of sternum, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion

View all codes in the S22 family

Indexed Clinical Terms (2)

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code.

Fracture, traumatic (abduction) (adduction) (separation), sternum
Fracture, traumatic (abduction) (adduction) (separation), thorax (bony), sternum

S22.20 ICD-10-CM Code: Unspecified fracture of sternum