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S46.919A
ICD-10-CM
Shoulder Muscle Strain

Find information on shoulder muscle strain diagnosis, including clinical documentation, ICD-10 codes (S46.0-), medical coding guidelines, and treatment options. Learn about rotator cuff injuries, shoulder pain, muscle tear symptoms, physical therapy, and rehabilitation for shoulder muscle strains. This resource offers support for healthcare professionals, coders, and patients seeking information on shoulder muscle strain evaluation and management.

Also known as

Rotator Cuff Strain
Shoulder Tendon Strain

Diagnosis Snapshot

Key Facts
  • Definition : Overstretching or tearing of shoulder muscles, often from overuse or sudden injury.
  • Clinical Signs : Pain, tenderness, limited range of motion, swelling, and sometimes bruising or muscle spasms.
  • Common Settings : Sports injuries, weightlifting, falls, repetitive overhead activities, and heavy lifting.

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to AAPC S46.919A Coding
S46

Injuries to shoulder and upper arm

Includes sprains and strains of shoulder muscles and tendons.

M75

Shoulder lesions

Covers other shoulder lesions like rotator cuff tears or impingement, sometimes related to strain.

M62.83

Other specified disorders of muscle

Includes other muscle disorders that may involve shoulder strain symptoms.

Code-Specific Guidance

Decision Tree for

Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.

Is the shoulder strain traumatic?

  • Yes

    Site specified?

  • No

    Overuse/chronic?

Code Comparison

Related Codes Comparison

When to use each related code

Description
Shoulder muscle strain
Shoulder rotator cuff tear
Shoulder impingement syndrome

Documentation Best Practices

Documentation Checklist
  • Shoulder pain onset, duration, location
  • Mechanism of injury documentation
  • Palpation findings, range of motion
  • Pain level, aggravating/relieving factors
  • ICD-10 code: S46.0-, muscle strain

Coding and Audit Risks

Common Risks
  • Unspecified Strain

    Coding with unspecified strain (S46.0) without documenting laterality or specific muscle involvement creates audit risks and lost revenue.

  • Traumatic vs. Overuse

    Incorrectly coding a traumatic strain (S46.0-) as an overuse injury (M75.1-) or vice versa leads to inaccurate data and potential denials.

  • Rotator Cuff Tear Miscode

    Miscoding a rotator cuff tear (S46.01-) as a simple strain (S46.00-) downcodes the severity and impacts reimbursement and quality metrics.

Mitigation Tips

Best Practices
  • RICE therapy (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) for acute strain
  • Accurate ICD-10 coding (S46.0-, S46.1-) for proper reimbursement
  • Detailed documentation of pain, ROM, mechanism of injury for CDI
  • Physical therapy focused on strengthening, flexibility, pain management
  • Patient education on proper body mechanics, activity modification

Clinical Decision Support

Checklist
  • Verify pain localized to shoulder muscle(s)
  • Confirm pain with active shoulder ROM
  • Palpate for tenderness, edema, spasm
  • Rule out fracture/dislocation via imaging if needed
  • Check ICD-10 S46.0-, S26.0-, M75.1-

Reimbursement and Quality Metrics

Impact Summary
  • Shoulder Muscle Strain reimbursement hinges on accurate ICD-10 (S46.0-) and CPT (99202-99215, 97140) coding, impacting claim denials.
  • Proper documentation of injury mechanism and severity influences E/M coding level, impacting RVU and reimbursement.
  • Shoulder strain quality metrics track functional improvement, pain reduction, and return to activity, affecting hospital value-based payments.
  • Accurate coding and documentation of shoulder strain diagnoses improve data integrity for hospital reporting and quality improvement initiatives.

Streamline Your Medical Coding

Let S10.AI help you select the most accurate ICD-10 codes for . Our AI-powered assistant ensures compliance and reduces coding errors.

Quick Tips

Practical Coding Tips
  • Code strain severity (mild, moderate, severe)
  • Document precise shoulder location
  • Laterality: Specify left or right shoulder
  • Check 7th character for initial/subsequent
  • Consider associated injuries (e.g., rotator cuff tear)

Documentation Templates

Patient presents with complaints of shoulder pain consistent with a shoulder muscle strain.  Onset of pain occurred [Date of onset] while [Mechanism of injury - e.g., lifting heavy objects, playing sports, falling].  Patient localizes pain to [Specific location - e.g., anterior, posterior, lateral shoulder], describing it as [Character of pain - e.g., sharp, dull, aching, throbbing].  Pain is aggravated by [Aggravating factors - e.g., movement, palpation, raising arm overhead] and relieved by [Relieving factors - e.g., rest, ice].  Patient denies any numbness, tingling, or radiating pain.  Physical examination reveals [Objective findings - e.g., tenderness to palpation over [Specific muscle - e.g., rotator cuff muscles, deltoid, trapezius], limited range of motion in [Specific movement - e.g., abduction, flexion, external rotation], no obvious deformity or ecchymosis].  Strength testing is [Strength testing results - e.g., 5/5 throughout, 4/5 in abduction].  Neurovascular examination is intact.  Differential diagnosis includes rotator cuff tear, shoulder impingement syndrome, frozen shoulder, and cervical radiculopathy.  Assessment:  Shoulder muscle strain, likely involving [Specific muscle - e.g., rotator cuff muscles].  Plan:  Conservative management with rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE).  Patient advised to avoid activities that exacerbate pain.  Over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen recommended for pain management.  Referral to physical therapy for range of motion exercises and strengthening as needed.  Follow-up appointment scheduled in [Duration - e.g., 2 weeks] to assess response to treatment.  ICD-10 code: [Appropriate ICD-10 code - e.g., S46.0].