Sprain/Strain Injuries
- Strain: An overstretching of the muscle.
- Sprain: Damage to the ligament/tendon.
- Despite remodeling (healing), the biomechanical properties of healed tendon tissue never match those of intact tendons. (The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburg and Ireland, Surgeons 3: 5;309-306 2005).
- Sprain/Strain injuries can be either transient or permanent.
- There are 3 grades of sprain/strain injuries.
3 Grades of Sprain/Strain Injuries
- Grade I (Primary): results in stretching of the muscles and/or ligaments. The symptoms tend to be limited to pain and swelling. This is a transient condition.
- Grade II (Secondary): is more severe and results in partial tearing of the muscles and/or ligaments. There is more significant swelling and bruising caused by bleeding under the skin. This is a permanent condition and will lead to permanent limitation of function to varying degrees.
- Grade III (Tertiary): is the most severe and results in complete tearing of the muscle and/or ligaments. The area is painful and function is limited and instability is present. This is a permanent condition and will lead to permanent and very significant limitation of function
The Four Commonly Used Sprain/Strain ICD 10 Diagnostic Codes
- S13 Sprain/Strain Injury Cervical Spine (S23 for thoracic; S33 for lumbar)
- S13.1 Subluxation of cervical vertebra (S23.1 for thoracic; S33.1 for lumbar.
- S33.6 Sprain of Sacroiliac Joint
- M53.3 Sacroilliac Joint pain.
- M54.2 Cervicalgia