S23.0XXA Traumatic rupture of thoracic intervertebral disc, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM S23.0XXA: Traumatic rupture of thoracic intervertebral disc, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM code S23.0XXA identifies the initial encounter for a traumatic rupture of a thoracic intervertebral disc. This specific classification distinguishes the injury by its thoracic anatomical location and traumatic origin. The provided sources establish the official code label and its place within injury classifications, while clinical literature describes thoracic disc conditions as uncommon sources of back pain. 3 4 1

Plain-language overview

Code S23.0XXA represents a traumatic rupture of a thoracic intervertebral disc during an initial encounter, serving as a specific diagnostic label rather than personal medical advice for any individual reader. 3 4

What this code represents

The official label for S23.0XXA is traumatic rupture of thoracic intervertebral disc, initial encounter, and this diagnosis code is listed alongside corresponding traumatic rupture codes for the cervical and lumbar spine regions. 3 4

The classification for S23.0XXA includes distinct seventh-character extensions to differentiate the stage of care, specifically separating an initial encounter from a subsequent encounter or sequela. 4

Clinical context

Clinical literature notes that thoracic discogenic syndrome is an uncommon source of back pain characterized by nonspecific symptoms, and that athletes involved in sports requiring twisting movements experience traumatic thoracic discogenic syndrome. 1

Symptoms related to thoracic discogenic syndrome may present as pain in the chest wall, epigastric region, and upper extremities, and sometimes in the groin or lower extremities. 1

Documentation considerations

The official code structure for S23.0XXA explicitly specifies the thoracic region, the traumatic nature of the rupture, and the initial encounter, establishing the precise diagnostic elements captured by this classification. 3 4

What the sources add

The clinical reference from NCBI provides background on thoracic discogenic syndrome symptoms and traumatic etiology, while the government and terminology sources provide the exact ICD-10-CM code assignment and official label. 1 3 4

Comparing the sources, the clinical literature describes the manifestation and sports-related occurrence of thoracic discogenic syndrome, whereas the official coding references strictly define the alphanumeric structure and encounter designation for the diagnosis. 1 3 4

Sources

1. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
2. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
3. Head and Spinal Cord ICD-10 Inclusion Codes — dph.illinois.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
4. EVS Explore — evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.