S44.22XA ICD-10-CM Code: Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, left arm, initial encounter
Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.
Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)
MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43.0, Appendix B.
- MS-DRG 073 — CRANIAL AND PERIPHERAL NERVE DISORDERS WITH MCC (MDC 01)
- MS-DRG 074 — CRANIAL AND PERIPHERAL NERVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC (MDC 01)
- MS-DRG 963 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH MCC (MDC 24)
- MS-DRG 964 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH CC (MDC 24)
- MS-DRG 965 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 24)
A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.
Official Registry Overview & Definition
Official Tabular Instructional Notes
Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S44.22XA 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
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).
- radial nerve NOS (S54.2) Compare S44.22XA vs S54.2 →
Excludes2 — Not Included Here
Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.
- injury of brachial plexus (S14.3-) Compare S44.22XA vs S14.3 →
- burns and corrosions (T20-T32) Compare S44.22XA vs T20 →
- frostbite (T33-T34) Compare S44.22XA vs T33 →
- injuries of elbow (S50-S59) Compare S44.22XA vs S50 →
- insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4) Compare S44.22XA vs T63.4 →
Code Also
Additional codes that may be required to fully describe the encounter.
- any associated open wound (S41.-)
Change history
No changes recorded for this code — unchanged since the FY2016 baseline of the change ledger.
Verify Before Coding
- Billable — reportable as written.
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 S44.22XA 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]
- S40-S49 — Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm [Hierarchy]
Clinical classification (CCSR)
- INJ025 — Injury to nerves, muscles and tendons, initial encounter [CCSR]
Potential MS-DRG
- DRG 073 — CRANIAL AND PERIPHERAL NERVE DISORDERS WITH MCC [MS-DRG]: “CRANIAL AND PERIPHERAL NERVE DISORDERS WITH MCC (MDC 01)”
- DRG 074 — CRANIAL AND PERIPHERAL NERVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC [MS-DRG]: “CRANIAL AND PERIPHERAL NERVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC (MDC 01)”
- DRG 963 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH MCC [MS-DRG]: “OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH MCC (MDC 24)”
- DRG 964 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH CC [MS-DRG]: “OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH CC (MDC 24)”
- DRG 965 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITHOUT CC/MCC [MS-DRG]: “OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 24)”
Nearest codes (40)
- S44 — Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level [Sibling]
- S44.10XD — Injury of median nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
- S44.10XS — Injury of median nerve at upper arm level, unspecified arm, sequela [Sibling]
- S44.11 — Injury of median nerve at upper arm level, right arm [Sibling]
- S44.11XA — Injury of median nerve at upper arm level, right arm, initial encounter [Sibling]
- S44.11XD — Injury of median nerve at upper arm level, right arm, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
- S44.11XS — Injury of median nerve at upper arm level, right arm, sequela [Sibling]
- S44.12 — Injury of median nerve at upper arm level, left arm [Sibling]
- and 32 more
Relationships & Classification
Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):INJ025 — Injury to nerves, muscles and tendons, initial encounter (default).
Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Potential MS-DRG Relationships (FY2026)
Not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity.
Named in the grouper logic of 5 MS-DRGs: DRG 073 (MDC 01), DRG 074 (MDC 01), DRG 963 (MDC 24), DRG 964 (MDC 24), DRG 965 (MDC 24).
From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
Does S44.22XA require a 7th character?
Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S44.
Nearest Codes in This Family
Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S44.22XA in its code family, with their registry titles.
- S44.21 — Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, right arm
- S44.21XA — Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, right arm, initial encounter
- S44.21XD — Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, right arm, subsequent encounter
- S44.21XS — Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, right arm, sequela
- S44.22 — Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, left arm
- S44.22XD — Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, left arm, subsequent encounter
- S44.22XS — Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, left arm, sequela
- S44.3 — Injury of axillary nerve
- S44.30 — Injury of axillary nerve, unspecified arm
- S44.30XA — Injury of axillary nerve, unspecified arm, initial encounter