S40 is the authoritative medical code for Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm. This classification is used in medical billing and clinical recording to specify the clinical criteria for superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm (ICD-10-CM S40), 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
Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code S40. A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission. Includes: injuries of axilla; injuries of scapular region. Excludes2 (not included here): burns and corrosions T20-T32; frostbite T33-T34; injuries of elbow S50-S59; insect bite or sting, venomous T63.4. 7th character: The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S40.
Official Tabular Instructional Notes
Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S40 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.
Includes
Conditions the official ICD-10-CM tabular list includes under this code.
- injuries of axilla
- injuries of scapular region
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
- frostbite T33-T34
- injuries of elbow S50-S59
- insect bite or sting, venomous T63.4
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
Can S40 be billed directly?
No. S40 (Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.
Does S40 require a 7th character?
Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S40.
Can S40 be reported alongside related conditions?
Per Excludes2 instructions, S40 and the following may both be reported when both are present: burns and corrosions (T20-T32); frostbite (T33-T34); injuries of elbow (S50-S59); insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4).
Codes in This Family (40)
Official ICD-10-CM classifications in the same code family as S40, with their registry titles.
- S40.0 — Contusion of shoulder and upper arm
- S40.011 — Contusion of right shoulder
- S40.011A — Contusion of right shoulder, initial encounter
- S40.011D — Contusion of right shoulder, subsequent encounter
- S40.011S — Contusion of right shoulder, sequela
- S40.012 — Contusion of left shoulder
- S40.012A — Contusion of left shoulder, initial encounter
- S40.012D — Contusion of left shoulder, subsequent encounter
- S40.012S — Contusion of left shoulder, sequela
- S40.019 — Contusion of unspecified shoulder
- S40.019A — Contusion of unspecified shoulder, initial encounter
- S40.019D — Contusion of unspecified shoulder, subsequent encounter
- S40.019S — Contusion of unspecified shoulder, sequela
- S40.021 — Contusion of right upper arm
- S40.021A — Contusion of right upper arm, initial encounter
- S40.021D — Contusion of right upper arm, subsequent encounter
- S40.021S — Contusion of right upper arm, sequela
- S40.022 — Contusion of left upper arm
- S40.022A — Contusion of left upper arm, initial encounter
- S40.022D — Contusion of left upper arm, subsequent encounter
- S40.022S — Contusion of left upper arm, sequela
- S40.029 — Contusion of unspecified upper arm
- S40.029A — Contusion of unspecified upper arm, initial encounter
- S40.029D — Contusion of unspecified upper arm, subsequent encounter
- S40.029S — Contusion of unspecified upper arm, sequela
- S40.2 — Other superficial injuries of shoulder
- S40.211 — Abrasion of right shoulder
- S40.211A — Abrasion of right shoulder, initial encounter
- S40.211D — Abrasion of right shoulder, subsequent encounter
- S40.211S — Abrasion of right shoulder, sequela
- S40.212 — Abrasion of left shoulder
- S40.212A — Abrasion of left shoulder, initial encounter
- S40.212D — Abrasion of left shoulder, subsequent encounter
- S40.212S — Abrasion of left shoulder, sequela
- S40.219 — Abrasion of unspecified shoulder
- S40.219A — Abrasion of unspecified shoulder, initial encounter
- S40.219D — Abrasion of unspecified shoulder, subsequent encounter
- S40.219S — Abrasion of unspecified shoulder, sequela
- S40.221 — Blister (nonthermal) of right shoulder
- S40.221A — Blister (nonthermal) of right shoulder, initial encounter
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 S35
Injury of blood vessels at abdomen, lower back and pelvis level
ICD Code S38
Crushing injury and traumatic amputation of abdomen, lower back, pelvis and external genitals
ICD Code S39
Other and unspecified injuries of abdomen, lower back, pelvis and external genitals
ICD Code S43
Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of shoulder girdle
ICD Code S44
Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level
ICD Code S45
Injury of blood vessels at shoulder and upper arm level