S20.44 — External constriction of back wall of thorax
Is S20.44 billable?
No — S20.44 is a non-billable header code. S20.44 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 9 billable codes beneath S20.44.
Billable codes under this header
- S20.441AExternal constriction of right back wall of thorax, initial encounter
- S20.441DExternal constriction of right back wall of thorax, subsequent encounter
- S20.441SExternal constriction of right back wall of thorax, sequela
- S20.442AExternal constriction of left back wall of thorax, initial encounter
- S20.442DExternal constriction of left back wall of thorax, subsequent encounter
- S20.442SExternal constriction of left back wall of thorax, sequela
- S20.449AExternal constriction of unspecified back wall of thorax, initial encounter
- S20.449DExternal constriction of unspecified back wall of thorax, subsequent encounter
- S20.449SExternal constriction of unspecified back wall of thorax, sequela
S20.44 at a glance
| Code | S20.44 |
|---|---|
| Description | External constriction of back wall of thorax |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
How is S20.44 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to S20.44. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Constriction › external › thorax, thoracic › back
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside S20.44 to fully describe the condition. S20.44 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 S20.44, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S20.44 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S20-S29
The conditions below are not part of S20.44, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S20.44 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- 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)
What codes fall under S20.44? (3)
How long has S20.44 existed?
S20.44 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.
What other codes are in the S20.4 family? (6)
- S20.40Unspecified superficial injuries of back wall of thoraxnot billable
- S20.41Abrasion of back wall of thoraxnot billable
- S20.42Blister (nonthermal) of back wall of thoraxnot billable
- S20.45Superficial foreign body of back wall of thoraxnot billable
- S20.46Insect bite (nonvenomous) of back wall of thoraxnot billable
- S20.47Other superficial bite of back wall of thoraxnot billable