ICDcodes.org
FY2027

S13.4 — Sprain of ligaments of cervical spine

Not billable

Is S13.4 billable?

No — S13.4 is a non-billable header code. S13.4 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 3 billable codes beneath S13.4.

S13.4 at a glance

CodeS13.4
DescriptionSprain of ligaments of cervical spine
BillableNo — header code
Code setICD-10-CM FY2027
Valid for encountersOctober 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027

How is S13.4 listed in the Alphabetic Index?

These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to S13.4. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.

  • Whiplash injury
  • Injury › whiplash
  • Sprain › anterior longitudinal, cervical (joint) (ligament)
  • Sprain › atlas, atlanto-axial, atlanto-occipital (joint) (ligament)
  • Sprain › cervical, cervicodorsal, cervicothoracic (joint) (ligament)
  • Syndrome › whiplash
  • Torticollis › traumatic, current (intermittent) (spastic)
  • Sprain › neck › anterior longitudinal cervical ligament (joint) (ligament)
  • Sprain › neck › atlanto-axial joint (joint) (ligament)
  • Sprain › neck › atlanto-occipital joint (joint) (ligament)
  • Sprain › neck › cervical spine (joint) (ligament)
  • Sprain › spine › cervical (joint) (ligament)

Inclusion terms

Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to S13.4.

  • Sprain of anterior longitudinal (ligament), cervical
  • Sprain of atlanto-axial (joints)
  • Sprain of atlanto-occipital (joints)
  • Whiplash injury of cervical spine

Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19

Report an additional code alongside S13.4 to fully describe the condition. S13.4 is sequenced first.

  • code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 19

The conditions below are not part of S13.4, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S13.4 and the excluded code may both be reported.

  • birth trauma (P10-P15)
  • obstetric trauma (O70-O71)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S10-S19

The conditions below are not part of S13.4, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S13.4 and the excluded code may both be reported.

  • burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
  • effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1)
  • effects of foreign body in larynx (T17.3)
  • effects of foreign body in pharynx (T17.2)
  • effects of foreign body in trachea (T17.4)
  • frostbite (T33-T34)
  • insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S13

The conditions below are not part of S13.4, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S13.4 and the excluded code may both be reported.

  • strain of muscle or tendon at neck level (S16.1)

Code also — inherited from S13

Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether S13.4 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.

  • any associated open wound

What codes fall under S13.4? (3)

How long has S13.4 existed?

S13.4 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.

Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.

Which codes are confused with S13.4?

ICD-10-CM declares these codes mutually exclusive with S13.4 — exactly one of each pair can be correct for a given encounter.

Which conditions are coded to S13.4?

What other codes are in the S13 family? (6)