S13.4XXA diagnosis code: Sprain of ligaments of cervical spine, initial encounter
The S13.4XXA is an ICD code included in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM, for short), and it is used to designate “Sprain of ligaments of cervical spine, initial encounter.”
This condition falls under the S13 category, which encompasses injuries to the joints and ligaments at the neck level. Specifically, this category includes:
- avulsion of joint or ligament at neck level
- laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament at neck level
- sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament at neck level
- traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament at neck level
- traumatic rupture of joint or ligament at neck level
- traumatic subluxation of joint or ligament at neck level
- traumatic tear of joint or ligament at neck level
S13.4XXA ICD code pertains to ligament sprains or dislocations in a person's neck. Sprains such as this are caused by forcibly twisting the neck, getting hit, or falling. If the ligaments of the cervical spine are sprained, then they are torn or overstretched.
The initial encounter in this diagnosis code means that it's the first time the patient and their condition were assessed by a certain provider. Even if they've been diagnosed with this before but with another provider, “initial encounter” should be used if the current one is dealing with them for the first time. Also, the diagnosis code should be given while the patient is actively treated for ligament sprains in the cervical spine.
In addition to the initial encounter code (denoted by A), there are also specific codes based on the type of encounter, such as subsequent encounter (denoted by D) and sequela (denoted by S).