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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

S15.129AMajor laceration of unspecified vertebral artery, initial encounter

✓ Billable / specificRequires 7th characterCC — complication/comorbidityUnspecified — edit

S15.129A is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for major laceration of unspecified vertebral artery, initial encounter. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.Short description: Major laceration of unsp vertebral artery, init encntr

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About S15.129A

S15.129A is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for major laceration of unspecified vertebral artery, initial encounter. It belongs to category S15 (injury of blood vessels at neck level), block S10-S19 (injuries to the neck) and chapter 19 (injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

The 7th character "A" means initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for the condition.

As a secondary diagnosis it is a CC (complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the "with CC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 011 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with MCC, relative weight 5.6154), DRG 012 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with CC, relative weight 4.381), DRG 013 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy without CC/MCC, relative weight 2.7307), DRG 913 (Traumatic Injury with MCC, relative weight 1.5455), DRG 914 (Traumatic Injury without MCC, relative weight 0.9285), DRG 963 (Other Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC, relative weight 2.6363) and 2 more, in Pre-MDC, MDC 21 (Injuries, Poisonings and Toxic Effects of Drugs) and MDC 24 (Multiple Significant Trauma), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It is an unspecified code for which a more specific option (often laterality) exists, and the Medicare Code Editor flags it for review on inpatient claims.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 900.89 (injury to other specified blood vessels of head and neck).

7th character

Ainitial encounter

CC/MCC status for this injury by encounter: CC for A; Neither CC nor MCC for D, S.

Other encounter types for S15.129:

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to S15.129A.

› From S15 Injury of blood vessels at neck level
Code also
  • any associated open wound (S11.-)

Broader instructions also apply from S10-S19 Injuries to the neck and Chapter 19: Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.

MS-DRG v44.0 grouping

All DRGs →

Inpatient MS-DRGs this diagnosis can group to, as the principal or a secondary diagnosis, depending on the rest of the claim.

MDC 21 · Injuries, Poisonings and Toxic Effects of Drugs

ICD-9-CM equivalent

Converter →
  • 900.89Injury to other specified blood vessels of head and neckapproximate

From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about S15.129A

Is S15.129A billable?

Yes. S15.129A is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

What does the "A" at the end of S15.129A mean?

It is the 7th character for initial encounter. Per the official guidelines, use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for the condition.

Can S15.129A be used as a principal diagnosis?

Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict S15.129A as a principal diagnosis.

Is S15.129A a CC or MCC?

S15.129A is a CC (complication or comorbidity) under MS-DRG v44.0, unless excluded by the principal diagnosis.

What DRG does S15.129A group to?

S15.129A is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 011 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with MCC), MS-DRG 012 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with CC), MS-DRG 013 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy without CC/MCC), MS-DRG 913 (Traumatic Injury with MCC), MS-DRG 914 (Traumatic Injury without MCC), MS-DRG 963 (Other Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC) and 2 more. Which one applies depends on whether it is the principal diagnosis and on the rest of the claim.

What is the ICD-9 code for S15.129A?

The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map S15.129A to ICD-9-CM 900.89.