S14.121A Central cord syndrome at C1 level of cervical spinal cord, initial encounter

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026.

Built from S14.121 with 7th character A (initial encounter).

Applies from S14 Injury of nerves and spinal cord at neck level

Code also

• any associated:
• fracture of cervical vertebra (S12.0--S12.6.-)
• open wound of neck (S11.-)
• transient paralysis (R29.5)

7th character note

• The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S14

Notes

• Code to highest level of cervical cord injury

7th character required

• A — initial encounter
• D — subsequent encounter
• S — sequela

Risk adjustment (HCC)

• CMS-HCC V28: HCC 182 — Spinal Cord Disorders/Injuries
• CMS-HCC V22: HCC 72 — Spinal Cord Disorders/Injuries
• ESRD V24: HCC 72

Code annotations containing back-references to S14.121A

Back-references to S14.1

• Code First: R29.5 Transient paralysis ("any associated spinal cord injury (S14.0, S14.1-, S24.0, S24.1-, S34.0-, S34.1-)")
• Code Also: S11 Open wound of neck ("spinal cord injury (S14.0, S14.1-)")
• Code First: S12 Fracture of cervical vertebra and other parts of neck ("any associated cervical spinal cord injury (S14.0, S14.1-)")
• Code Also: S13.1 Subluxation and dislocation of cervical vertebrae ("spinal cord injury (S14.1-)")
• Use Additional: S17 Crushing injury of neck ("spinal cord injury (S14.0, S14.1-)")

Back-references to S14

• Type 1 Excludes: G83.8 Other specified paralytic syndromes ("paralytic syndromes due to current spinal cord injury-code to spinal cord injury (S14, S24, S34)")
• Type 2 Excludes: S27 Injury of other and unspecified intrathoracic organs ("injury of cervical esophagus (S10-S19)")
• Type 2 Excludes: S27 Injury of other and unspecified intrathoracic organs ("injury of trachea (cervical) (S10-S19)")

Diagnosis Index entries for S14.121A

• Injury › spinal (cord) › cervical (neck) › central cord syndrome › C1 level

Nearby codes

• S14.119A Complete lesion at unspecified level of cervical spinal cord, initial encounter
• S14.119D Complete lesion at unspecified level of cervical spinal cord, subsequent encounter
• S14.119S Complete lesion at unspecified level of cervical spinal cord, sequela
• S14.12 Central cord syndrome of cervical spinal cord
• S14.121 Central cord syndrome at C1 level of cervical spinal cord
• S14.121A Central cord syndrome at C1 level of cervical spinal cord, initial encounter (this code)
• S14.121D Central cord syndrome at C1 level of cervical spinal cord, subsequent encounter
• S14.121S Central cord syndrome at C1 level of cervical spinal cord, sequela
• S14.122 Central cord syndrome at C2 level of cervical spinal cord
• S14.122A Central cord syndrome at C2 level of cervical spinal cord, initial encounter
• S14.122D Central cord syndrome at C2 level of cervical spinal cord, subsequent encounter