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ICD-10/S54.21

S54.21 ICD-10-CM Code: Injury of radial nerve at forearm level, right arm

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

Code Set: Valid FY2026 and FY2027. FY2026 took effect October 1, 2025.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Injury of radial nerve at forearm level, right arm is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S54.21). A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission.

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S54.21 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

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

  • injury of nerves at wrist and hand level (S64.-)
  • burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
  • frostbite (T33-T34)
  • injuries of wrist and hand (S60-S69)
  • insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)

Code Also

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

  • any associated open wound (S51.-)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance

Can S54.21 be billed directly?

No. S54.21 (Injury of radial nerve at forearm level, right arm) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.

Does S54.21 require a 7th character?

Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S54.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S54.21 in its code family, with their registry titles.

  • S54.2 — Injury of radial nerve at forearm level
  • S54.20 — Injury of radial nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm
  • S54.20XA — Injury of radial nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm, initial encounter
  • S54.20XD — Injury of radial nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter
  • S54.20XS — Injury of radial nerve at forearm level, unspecified arm, sequela
  • S54.21XA — Injury of radial nerve at forearm level, right arm, initial encounter
  • S54.21XD — Injury of radial nerve at forearm level, right arm, subsequent encounter
  • S54.21XS — Injury of radial nerve at forearm level, right arm, sequela
  • S54.22 — Injury of radial nerve at forearm level, left arm
  • S54.22XA — Injury of radial nerve at forearm level, left arm, initial encounter

View all codes in the S54 family