Unspecified fracture of first cervical vertebra

Not billableICD-10-CM diagnosis code.

This code exists but cannot be submitted on its own. It groups the more specific codes beneath it.

A category header for its whole life, FY2016 onwards. It has never been valid for submission on its own.

Submit one of these 2 more specific codes instead:

S12.000 Unspecified displaced fracture of first cervical vertebra (also a header)
S12.001 Unspecified nondisplaced fracture of first cervical vertebra (also a header)

This code requires a seventh character. See the rule below.

What has happened to this code

Every change the publisher made, from 2012 to now. Entries marked draft are from the pre-implementation releases: ICD-10 took effect on 1 October 2015, so nothing before FY2016 was ever valid on a claim.

FY2012 Added to the draft code set draft Unspecified fracture of first cervical vertebra

Official coding rules

Published by CDC for FY2027. A rule attached to a category binds every code beneath it, so the rules inherited from this code's ancestors are shown with the code they come from.

Inherited from S12 Fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck

Seventh character required

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from subcategories S12.0-S12.6

Code first

any associated cervical spinal cord injury (S14.0, S14.1-)

Includes

fracture of cervical neural arch
fracture of cervical spine
fracture of cervical spinous process
fracture of cervical transverse process
fracture of cervical vertebral arch
fracture of neck

Note

A fracture not indicated as displaced or nondisplaced should be coded to displaced
A fracture not indicated as open or closed should be coded to closed

Inherited from the S10-S19 section Injuries to the neck (S10-S19)

Excludes2 - not included here

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)

Includes

injuries of nape
injuries of supraclavicular region
injuries of throat

Codes in the same group

Code	Description	Status
S12.01	Stable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra	Not billable
S12.02	Unstable burst fracture of first cervical vertebra	Not billable
S12.03	Posterior arch fracture of first cervical vertebra	Not billable
S12.04	Lateral mass fracture of first cervical vertebra	Not billable
S12.09	Other fracture of first cervical vertebra	Not billable