S45 – Injury of blood vessels at shoulder and upper arm level

ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code · Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm

Non-billable header

ICD-10-CM code S45

Code: S45 (claims format: S45)
Description: Injury of blood vessels at shoulder and upper arm level
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: S40-S49 Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm

Billable codes under S45

S45 is a header code and cannot be used on claims. Choose the most specific code:

S45.0 – Injury of axillary arteryHeader (more codes below)
S45.1 – Injury of brachial arteryHeader (more codes below)
S45.2 – Injury of axillary or brachial veinHeader (more codes below)
S45.3 – Injury of superficial vein at shoulder and upper arm levelHeader (more codes below)
S45.8 – Injury of other specified blood vessels at shoulder and upper arm levelHeader (more codes below)
S45.9 – Injury of unspecified blood vessel at shoulder and upper arm levelHeader (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 S45

Excludes2 (not included here):

injury of subclavian artery (S25.1)
injury of subclavian vein (S25.3)

Code also:

any associated open wound (S41.-)

7th character note:

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S45

Notes inherited from parent codes

Instructional notes at a category or block level apply to every code below it.

Block S40-S49

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)

Frequently asked questions

What is ICD-10 code S45?

S45 is the ICD-10-CM code for injury of blood vessels at shoulder and upper arm level, in the block S40-S49 (Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm).

Is S45 a billable code?

No. S45 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.