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S32.030 ICD-10-CM Code: Wedge compression fracture of third lumbar vertebra

Compare with another codeCheck this code on a claim

Billing Status: NO. This is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code: report a more specific billable code beneath it.

Coding at a Glance

7th character
Required — see the character table on this page
Tabular directives
11 inclusion terms · 1 Excludes1 · 7 Excludes2 · 1 code-first instruction

Not billable · FY2027A non-billable heading in the tabular list: report a more specific code beneath it.

What you need to know

Source: CMS/NCHS Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes, quoted. From the CMS/NCHS tabular list for the release in force. A note the category or block publishes applies to this code too; the Instructions section marks which is which.

Code firstSequence the underlying condition before this code
  • any associated spinal cord and spinal nerve injury (S34.-)
Excludes1Never report with this code
  • transection of abdomen (S38.3)
Excludes2Not included here; may be reported together
  • fracture of hip NOS (S72.0-)
  • burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
  • effects of foreign body in anus and rectum (T18.5)
  • effects of foreign body in genitourinary tract (T19.-)

+3 more in Instructions

IncludesWhat this code covers
  • fracture of lumbosacral neural arch
  • fracture of lumbosacral spinous process
  • fracture of lumbosacral transverse process
  • fracture of lumbosacral vertebra

+7 more in Instructions

Most relevant related codes MedCoder-derived

Read off the official notes above and this code’s own position in the tabular list. Which to report is a documentation question; Compare shows the two side by side.

CompareCheck ClaimView Related Codes

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for S32.030 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2027Effective: October 1, 2026

Trace:FY2027 changesChange historyRelease, file and checksum

Notes without a marker are published on S32.030 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Includes

Conditions the official ICD-10-CM tabular list includes under this code.

  • fracture of lumbosacral neural arch inherited from S32
  • fracture of lumbosacral spinous process inherited from S32
  • fracture of lumbosacral transverse process inherited from S32
  • fracture of lumbosacral vertebra inherited from S32
  • fracture of lumbosacral vertebral arch inherited from S32
  • injuries to the abdominal wall inherited from S30-S39
  • injuries to the anus inherited from S30-S39
  • injuries to the buttock inherited from S30-S39
  • injuries to the external genitalia inherited from S30-S39
  • injuries to the flank inherited from S30-S39
  • injuries to the groin inherited from S30-S39

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).

Source: inherited from S32

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

Code First

Underlying conditions that must be sequenced before this code.

  • any associated spinal cord and spinal nerve injury (S34.-)

Source: inherited from S32

7th Character Guide

"The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S32"

  • 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

How the encounter character is assigned. “Initial encounter” means the patient is receiving active treatment for the condition — it is not limited to the first visit, and a different or new provider giving active treatment still assigns it. “Subsequent encounter” covers care during the healing or recovery phase after active treatment. “Sequela” is for complications or conditions that arise as a direct result of the original condition.

ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, Section I.C.19.a (paraphrased by MedCoder).

Variant codes in this family

S32.030A, S32.030B, S32.030D, S32.030G, S32.030K, S32.030S

Character meanings are CMS's official 7th-character extensions for this family, as carried in each variant code's official description; variant codes are registry rows. The explanation of how the encounter character is assigned is MedCoder editorial, distinct from the official content above it.

Coder workflow for S32.030

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code S32.030

  1. S32.030 is not reportable as written. Select the more specific code beneath it that the documentation supports. Codes are reported to the highest level of specificity the classification provides (Guidelines I.B.2).

    ReviewS32.030A, S32.030B, S32.030D, S32.030G, S32.030K, S32.030S

    See the relationships section · Guide: How to choose an ICD-10-CM code →

  2. A 7th character is required in this family. Confirm the documented encounter: initial (active treatment), subsequent (healing or recovery phase), or sequela. S32.030 is not valid without one. “Initial” means active treatment, not the first visit (Guidelines I.C.19.a).

    See the 7th Character Guide · Guide: 7th characters: initial, subsequent, sequela →

  3. Confirm the injury type, the anatomical site at the most specific level documented, laterality where the family codes it, and the encounter for the 7th character. Each injury is coded separately unless the classification provides a combination code, and a superficial injury is not coded when a more severe injury of the same site is documented. A fracture not documented as open or closed is coded as closed; one not documented as displaced or nondisplaced is coded as displaced. Injury chapter guidelines (Guidelines I.C.19.b, I.C.19.b.1, I.C.19.c).

    Guide: Traumatic vs pathological vs stress fracture →

  4. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with S32.030. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

    See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

  1. Does the documentation support one of the more specific codes beneath S32.030?
    Yes → Select that code and continue the checks below on its own page.
    No → S32.030 cannot be reported as written; query for the specificity its subcategory needs.

    ReviewS32.030A, S32.030B, S32.030D, S32.030G, S32.030K, S32.030S

  2. Does the documentation support a condition named in S32.030’s Excludes1 note?
    Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
    No → Continue.

    ReviewS38.3

  3. Is the underlying (etiologic) condition the Code First note names documented?
    Yes → Sequence the underlying condition first, then S32.030.
    No → Continue; do not add an underlying condition the record does not document.

    ReviewS34

  4. Is the encounter phase documented — active treatment, healing or recovery, or a sequela?
    Yes → Assign the matching 7th character; the variant codes are in the 7th Character Guide.
    No → The code is invalid without its 7th character — query for the missing element.

Consider S32.030. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement
Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).
Anatomical site
At the most specific level the record states; a site the classification separates cannot be assumed from a procedure or a measurement.
Encounter type
Active treatment, healing or recovery phase, or sequela — the basis of the 7th character (Guidelines I.C.19.a).
Open or closed; displaced or nondisplaced
Defaults apply when the record is silent: closed, and displaced (Guidelines I.C.19.c).
The underlying (etiologic) condition
Named in the Code First note; sequenced before this code when documented (Guidelines I.A.13).
External cause, place and activity
For the external cause codes reported with the injury or poisoning, where documented (Guidelines I.C.20.a).

Official instructions as workflow

  • Excludes1 — check before selecting S32.030(1 note)

    Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with S32.030: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

    CompareS38.3

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

  • Excludes2 — not part of S32.030(7 notes)

    Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in S32.030. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

    CompareS72.0, T18.5, T19, T63.4

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

  • Code First — sequencing check(1 note)

    Coding workflow: Check whether the underlying or etiologic condition the note names is documented. When it is, sequence it before S32.030. Do not add an underlying condition the record does not document.

    ReviewS34

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.13

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Documentation: Both the condition S32.030 describes and a condition named in its Excludes1 note are documented for the same encounter.

Coding question: Can both codes be reported?

Path: Review the Excludes1 note and the excluded code, and look for a provider statement on whether the two conditions are related.

Reason: Excludes1 means the two are not coded together; the exception is when the record shows the conditions are unrelated to each other (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

ReviewS38.3

Documentation: The patient returns during the healing or recovery phase after active treatment of the same condition.

Coding question: Which 7th character applies?

Path: Review the official 7th-character definitions for this family in the 7th Character Guide.

Reason: “Initial encounter” means active treatment, not the first visit; care during recovery takes “subsequent encounter”, and a complication arising from the original condition takes “sequela” (Guidelines I.C.19.a).

Documentation: The underlying condition the Code First note names is documented alongside this condition.

Coding question: How are the two sequenced?

Path: Review the Code First note.

Reason: The underlying condition is sequenced first and the manifestation follows (Guidelines I.A.13).

ReviewS34

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Don’t confuse S32.030 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of S32.030 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

  • S38.3— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of transection of abdomen moves the case to S38.3; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: S32.030 vs S38.3 →

  • S32.030A— Encounter relationship (Review)

    Same underlying diagnosis, different encounter phase.

    The same diagnosis at a different phase of care; one encounter takes one 7th character.

    What moves you there: Documentation of a initial encounter for closed fracture moves the case to S32.030A.

    Full comparison: S32.030 vs S32.030A →

  • S32.030B— Encounter relationship (Review)

    Same underlying diagnosis, different encounter phase.

    The same diagnosis at a different phase of care; one encounter takes one 7th character.

    What moves you there: Documentation of a initial encounter for open fracture moves the case to S32.030B.

    Full comparison: S32.030 vs S32.030B →

  • S72.0— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

    Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

    A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

    What moves you there: Documentation of fracture of hip NOS adds S72.0; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

    Full comparison: S32.030 vs S72.0 →

  • T20— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

    Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

    A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

    What moves you there: Documentation of burns and corrosions adds T20; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

    Full comparison: S32.030 vs T20 →

  • T32— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

    Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

    A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

    What moves you there: Documentation of burns and corrosions adds T32; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

    Full comparison: S32.030 vs T32 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Coding context

Guidelines, coding notes, decision aids, relationships (with MS-DRG and CCSR classification), hierarchy, HCC, coverage and the context map: what a coder reaches for after the core. Each section names whether it is official source data, a MedCoder-derived relationship or MedCoder editorial.

Code Overview

Wedge compression fracture of third lumbar vertebra is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S32.030). A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission.

MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.

Decision Points

The directives on this code's own record, as a pre-claim checklist.

  1. A 7th character applies in this family. Confirm the documented encounter matches the character assigned. See the official 7th-character definitions and this code’s variants
  2. Sequencing: 1 Code First instruction — the underlying condition is sequenced before this code when present. See the Code First notes
  3. 1 Excludes1 entry — codes named there are generally not reported together with this code (Guidelines I.A.12.a). See the Excludes1 notes
  4. 7 Excludes2 entries — those conditions are not part of this code and may be reported additionally when documented. See the Excludes2 notes

Checklist rows are derived from this code's own official directives; the wording of each check is MedCoder editorial. The official notes themselves are in the sections each row links to.

Verify Before Coding

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder-derived relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name S32.030 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 4 Excludes1 notes: M48.4 — Fatigue fracture of vertebra (via S32.0.-), M48.5 — Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified (via S32.-), M84.3 — Stress fracture (via S32.-), M84.4 — Pathological fracture, not elsewhere classified (via S32.-).

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 1 Excludes2 note: S33.1 — Subluxation and dislocation of lumbar vertebra (via S32.0.-).

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

Referenced by 1 Use Additional Code instruction: S38.1 — Crushing injury of abdomen, lower back, and pelvis (via S32.-).

These codes instruct coders to additionally report this code when it applies.

Referenced by 1 Code Also instruction: S34 — Injury of lumbar and sacral spinal cord and nerves at abdomen, lower back and pelvis level (via S32.0.-).

These codes suggest coding this condition alongside when both are present.

Contextual Map

Every relationship of S32.030 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.

Run S32.030 with these 7 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

Referenced by Use Additional Code instructions

Referenced by Code Also instructions

Index entries

  • Fracture, traumatic (abduction) (adduction) (separation), vertebra, vertebral (arch) (body) (column) (neural arch) (pedicle) (spinous process) (transverse process), lumbar, third, wedge compression[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027

Nearest codes (40)

Change history

  • FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Reference

Index terms and tables, published questions and FAQ, every source behind this page with its release and checksum, the date-of-service check and the complete change history.

Indexed Clinical Terms (1)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

Common coding questions

MedCoder editorial

Can S32.030 be billed directly?

No. S32.030 (Wedge compression fracture of third lumbar vertebra) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.

Does S32.030 require a 7th character?

Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S32.

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data
CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2027 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2026 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Claim edits Official source data
CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v44.0 (October 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data
CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder-derived relationship
Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears
Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder editorial explanation
Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Current data releases:ICD-10-CM FY2027 · ICD-10-PCS FY2027 · HCPCS October 2026 · MS-DRG v44 · Medicare Code Editor v44.0 · NCCI PTP Q4 2026 · MUE Q4 2026 · NCD code lists 2026-01 · LCD export September 28, 2026 · All releases and sources

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder-derived relationship · MedCoder editorial explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates · CMS coding rules

Cite this page

Reference this page in a research guide, syllabus or article. The release is included because code content changes each year.

MedCoder.ai. "S32.030 — Wedge compression fracture of third lumbar vertebra." ICD-10-CM FY2027. https://medcoder.ai/icd10/code/s32.030-wedge-compression-fracture-of-third-lumbar-vertebra

Change history

  • FY2016 — October 1, 2015
    In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
    Wedge compression fracture of third lumbar vertebra

No changes since FY2016 — additions, deletions, description changes and billable-status changes are tracked through FY2027, and none are recorded for this code. Note changes are tracked from FY2027 only.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S32.030 in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the S32 family