S43.30 ICD-10-CM Code: Subluxation and dislocation of unspecified parts of shoulder girdle

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for S43.30 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Notes without a marker are published on S43.30 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

7th Character Guide

"The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S43"

• A — initial encounter
• D — subsequent encounter
• 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

S43.301A, S43.301D, S43.301S, S43.302A, S43.302D, S43.302S, S43.303A, S43.303D

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 S43.30

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

Before you code S43.30

1. S43.30 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).

   ReviewS43.301, S43.302, S43.303, S43.304, S43.305

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

2. Unspecified does not mean incorrect. When the record gives no greater specificity, S43.30 may be the appropriate code. Check the record for detail that supports a more specific sibling. An unspecified code is for records that do not provide the detail a more specific code needs; a query, not an assumption, is the route to specificity (Guidelines I.A.9.b, I.B.18).

   See the hierarchy · Guide: Other vs unspecified (NEC vs NOS) →

3. A 7th character is required in this family. Confirm the documented encounter: initial (active treatment), subsequent (healing or recovery phase), or sequela. S43.30 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 →

4. 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. Injury chapter guidelines (Guidelines I.C.19.b, I.C.19.b.1).

   Guide: 7th characters: initial, subsequent, sequela →

Choose the right path

1. Does the documentation support one of the more specific codes beneath S43.30?
   Yes → Select that code and continue the checks below on its own page.
   No → S43.30 cannot be reported as written; query for the specificity its subcategory needs.

   ReviewS43.301, S43.302, S43.303, S43.304, S43.305

2. Does the record document the detail a more specific sibling code needs?
   Yes → Review the specific siblings in this subcategory.
   No → Continue — S43.30 is appropriate when the documentation goes no further.
3. 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 S43.30. Then review the Code Also note, and 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).

External cause, place and activity

For the external cause codes reported with the injury or poisoning, where documented (Guidelines I.C.20.a).

Any detail beyond this code’s title

What the record states that a more specific sibling code would capture — or its absence, which itself supports the unspecified code.

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes2 — not part of S43.30(5 notes)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in S43.30. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareS46, T63.4

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

• Code Also — related condition(1 note)

  Coding workflow: Review the related condition when both are documented and the instruction applies. A Code Also note does not fix sequencing; the order follows the circumstances of the encounter.

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.17

Coding decision scenarios

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

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 S43.30 with…

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

The codes most likely to be picked instead of S43.30 — 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.

• S43.301A— 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 moves the case to S43.301A.

  Full comparison: S43.30 vs S43.301A →

• S43.301D— 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 subsequent encounter moves the case to S43.301D.

  Full comparison: S43.30 vs S43.301D →

• S46— 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 strain of muscle, fascia and tendon of shoulder and upper arm adds S46; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: S43.30 vs S46 →

• 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: S43.30 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: S43.30 vs T32 →

• T33— 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 frostbite adds T33; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: S43.30 vs T33 →

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.

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. 1 Code Also note — a second code may apply; the guidelines leave its sequencing to the circumstances of the encounter. See the Code Also notes
3. 5 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

• Not billable as written — a more specific code is required: S43.301A, S43.301D, S43.301S, S43.302A, S43.302D.
• Requires a 7th character. "The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S43" Options: S43.301A, S43.301D, S43.301S, S43.302A, S43.302D, S43.302S

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

Related Codes

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main terms “Subluxation”, “Dislocation”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

S33.120 — Subluxation of L2/L3 lumbar vertebra (vertebral, traumatic, lumbar, joint between, L2 and L3), S33.121 — Dislocation of L2/L3 lumbar vertebra (vertebra, lumbar, joint between, L2 and L3), S33.130 — Subluxation of L3/L4 lumbar vertebra (vertebral, traumatic, lumbar, joint between, L3 and L4), S33.131 — Dislocation of L3/L4 lumbar vertebra (vertebra, lumbar, joint between, L3 and L4), S33.140 — Subluxation of L4/L5 lumbar vertebra (vertebral, traumatic, lumbar, joint between, L4 and L5), S33.141 — Dislocation of L4/L5 lumbar vertebra (vertebra, lumbar, joint between, L4 and L5), S33.2 — Dislocation of sacroiliac and sacrococcygeal joint (sacrum), S33.30 — Dislocation of unspecified parts of lumbar spine and pelvis (pelvis NEC), S33.39 — Dislocation of other parts of lumbar spine and pelvis (innominate), S33.4 — Traumatic rupture of symphysis pubis (symphysis pubis), S53.00 — Unspecified subluxation and dislocation of radial head (radial head), S53.006 — Unspecified dislocation of unspecified radial head (radial head), S53.01 — Anterior subluxation and dislocation of radial head (radial head, anterior), S53.02 — Posterior subluxation and dislocation of radial head (radial head, posterior), S53.03 — Nursemaid's elbow (radial head, nursemaid's elbow), S53.09 — Other subluxation and dislocation of radial head (radial head, specified type NEC), S53.10 — Unspecified subluxation and dislocation of ulnohumeral joint (elbow), S53.11 — Anterior subluxation and dislocation of ulnohumeral joint (elbow, anterior), S53.12 — Posterior subluxation and dislocation of ulnohumeral joint (elbow, posterior), S53.13 — Medial subluxation and dislocation of ulnohumeral joint (elbow, medial), +156 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of S43.30 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]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (40)

• S43 — Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of shoulder girdle[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S43.222A — Posterior subluxation of left sternoclavicular joint, initial encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S43.222D — Posterior subluxation of left sternoclavicular joint, subsequent encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S43.222S — Posterior subluxation of left sternoclavicular joint, sequela[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S43.223 — Posterior subluxation of unspecified sternoclavicular joint[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S43.223A — Posterior subluxation of unspecified sternoclavicular joint, initial encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S43.223D — Posterior subluxation of unspecified sternoclavicular joint, subsequent encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S43.223S — Posterior subluxation of unspecified sternoclavicular joint, sequela[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 32 more

Change history

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

Common coding questions

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 FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 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 structured 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 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.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S43.30 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• S43.226 — Posterior dislocation of unspecified sternoclavicular joint
• S43.226A — Posterior dislocation of unspecified sternoclavicular joint, initial encounter
• S43.226D — Posterior dislocation of unspecified sternoclavicular joint, subsequent encounter
• S43.226S — Posterior dislocation of unspecified sternoclavicular joint, sequela
• S43.3 — Subluxation and dislocation of other and unspecified parts of shoulder girdle
• S43.301 — Subluxation of unspecified parts of right shoulder girdle
• S43.301A — Subluxation of unspecified parts of right shoulder girdle, initial encounter
• S43.301D — Subluxation of unspecified parts of right shoulder girdle, subsequent encounter
• S43.301S — Subluxation of unspecified parts of right shoulder girdle, sequela
• S43.302 — Subluxation of unspecified parts of left shoulder girdle

View all codes in the S43 family