S20 – Superficial injury of thorax
ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code · Injuries to the thorax
ICD-10-CM code
S20
- Code
S20(claims format:S20)- Description
- Superficial injury of thorax
- Billable
- No – use a more specific code below
- Valid for
- Dates of service October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 (FY2027)
- Chapter
- 19. Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- Block
- S20-S29 Injuries to the thorax
Billable codes under S20
S20 is a header code and cannot be used on claims. Choose the most specific code:
- S20.0 – Contusion of breastHeader (more codes below)
- S20.1 – Other and unspecified superficial injuries of breastHeader (more codes below)
- S20.2 – Contusion of thoraxHeader (more codes below)
- S20.3 – Other and unspecified superficial injuries of front wall of thoraxHeader (more codes below)
- S20.4 – Other and unspecified superficial injuries of back wall of thoraxHeader (more codes below)
- S20.9 – Superficial injury of unspecified parts of thoraxHeader (more codes below)
7th character values
Codes in this category need a 7th character to describe the encounter or episode of care (use placeholder X for empty positions).
| Character | Meaning |
|---|---|
A | initial encounter |
D | subsequent encounter |
S | sequela |
Notes for S20
7th character note:
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S20
Notes inherited from parent codes
Instructional notes at a category or block level apply to every code below it.
Block S20-S29
Includes:
- injuries of breast
- injuries of chest (wall)
- injuries of interscapular area
Excludes2 (not included here):
- burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
- effects of foreign body in bronchus (T17.5)
- effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1)
- effects of foreign body in lung (T17.8)
- effects of foreign body in trachea (T17.4)
- frostbite (T33-T34)
- injuries of axilla
- injuries of clavicle
- injuries of scapular region
- injuries of shoulder
- insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
Frequently asked questions
What is ICD-10 code S20?
S20 is the ICD-10-CM code for superficial injury of thorax, in the block S20-S29 (Injuries to the thorax).
Is S20 a billable code?
No. S20 is a header code with more specific child codes; report one of the billable codes listed above.
Source: CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM FY2027 code files, tabular list and index. Reference only – code assignment must follow the official ICD-10-CM guidelines and documentation in the medical record.