Forehead Laceration ICD-10-CM Codes

Read this short guide and learn about forehead laceration ICD codes you can use.

By Alex King on Aug 8, 2025.

Fact Checked by RJ Gumban.

What are Forehead Laceration ICD-10-CM Codes?

There are no ICD-10 codes that specifically refer to forehead laceration or laceration of the forehead if you are searching for ICD codes for this condition. However, that doesn't imply that there aren't any codes for such a situation. The related ICD-10 codes for forehead lacerations are as follows:

S01.81XA - Laceration without foreign body of other part of the head, initial encounter

This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient with a laceration on the part of their head that doesn’t have a specific ICD-10 code. The forehead counts for this. The laceration isn’t accompanied by a foreign body, too.

This code has the initial encounter label, which means they are currently receiving active treatment for the laceration.

S01.81XD - Laceration without foreign body of other part of the head, subsequent encounter

This is the same as Item 1, but this time, there’s a subsequent encounter label, which means that the patient is currently in recovery and is still being given active/routine care for the laceration.

S01.81XS - Laceration without foreign body of other part of head, sequela

This is the same as Item 1, but there’s a sequela label this time, which means the patient is currently dealing with the aftereffects of the laceration. Two other ICD-10 codes must accompany this code. One should designate the sequela’s nature, while the other should describe the sequela (meaning its effects).

S01.82XA - Laceration with foreign body of other part of the head, initial encounter

This is similar to Item 1, but a foreign body accompanies the laceration this time.

S01.82XD - Laceration with foreign body of other part of the head, subsequent encounter

This is similar to Item 2, but a foreign body accompanies the laceration this time.

S01.82XS - Laceration with foreign body of other part of head, sequela

This is similar to Item 3, but a foreign body accompanied the laceration this time.

Which Forehead Laceration ICD-10-CM Codes are billable?

All listed codes are billable, meaning they can be used for insurance claims and reimbursement.

Clinical information

A laceration is a cut or tear in the skin usually caused by sharp objects or blunt trauma. These cuts or tears will be accompanied by bleeding. Once the bleeding has stopped, there will be a noticeable opening in the area of the cut/tear.

These cuts can either be shallow or deep. If the laceration is superficial, well, you can say that it's not so bad and that it'll close and heal up on its own over time after the bleeding has been stopped and the wound has been disinfected.

As for deep lacerations, that requires immediate concern because the bleeding will likely not stop until a healthcare professional stitches up the wound. This puts a person at risk of bleeding out if it isn't addressed immediately, especially if the laceration is deep enough that you can see the muscles or bones through the cut/tear.

In the context of this mini-guide, the location of the laceration is the forehead, which is dangerous because it is close to one of the most essential parts of our body: the brain. If there is a laceration in the forehead, and it happens to be relatively deep, the person with the laceration needs to be checked immediately in the emergency department so that healthcare professionals can close the wound and perhaps examine if there is damage to the skull and brain, primarily if the laceration was caused by blunt trauma. When documentation is unclear or the exact location isn't known, the injury may be categorized under an unspecified part of the head.

Synonyms include

Laceration of forehead
Simple laceration of the forehead
Complex laceration of the forehead
Laceration of the upper front part of the head
Open wound on the forehead
Forehead and facial laceration

Commonly asked questions

This means that the cause of the laceration is still there in the affected area, which, in the context of this guide, is concerning. An example of a foreign body is a glass shard or nail. If there is a glass shard or nail that’s still in the cut/tear in the forehead, that needs to be removed immediately.

Healthcare professionals will first apply pressure to the laceration with a clean cloth or gauze pad to stop the bleeding. An antiseptic ointment will be used to disinfect shallow cuts, and then they will be bandaged/dressed to prevent the wound from becoming dirty and infected. If it’s deep, they will stop the bleeding and stitch the wound before disinfecting and dressing it. Depending on what caused the laceration, healthcare professionals might administer injections like tetanus shots.

Lacerations are cuts and tears, usually horizontal or vertical, and the opening can either be a clean, straight cut or jagged. Puncture wounds are relatively small holes caused by objects that pierce the skin. Examples of things that can cause puncture wounds are bullets and nails.

EHR and practice management software

Get started for free

*No credit card required

Start for free

Free

$0/usd

Unlimited clients

Telehealth

1GB of storage

Client portal text

Automated billing and online payments