Laceration ICD-10-CM Codes

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

By Matt Olivares on Jun 16, 2024.

Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.

Use Code

Table of content

What laceration ICD codes can I use?Are these laceration ICD codes billable?Clinical information about lacerations Synonyms include FAQS

Use Code

What laceration ICD codes can I use?

If you’re looking for laceration ICD codes, you’re spoiled for choice because there’s a huge number to pick from. There are laceration codes for the head, face, scalp, hands, legs, eyelids, nose, ears, cheeks, and even organs. There are too many to list, so here are seven examples of possible laceration codes you can use:

S01.01XA - Laceration without foreign body of scalp, initial encounter

This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient with a scalp laceration. A foreign body doesn’t accompany this laceration.

S01.121A - Laceration with foreign body of right eyelid and periocular area, initial encounter

This ICD-10 code is meant for a patient with a laceration on their right eyelid, and a foreign body accompanies the laceration.

S01.21XA - Laceration without foreign body of nose, initial encounter

This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient with a nose laceration. A foreign body doesn’t accompany this laceration.

S01.322A - Laceration with foreign body of left ear, initial encounter

This ICD-10 code is meant for a patient with a laceration on their left ear, and a foreign body accompanies the laceration.

S01.511A - Laceration without foreign body of lip, initial encounter

This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient who has a laceration on their lip. A foreign body doesn’t accompany this laceration.

S61.421A - Laceration with foreign body of right hand, initial encounter

This ICD-10 code is meant for a patient with a laceration on their right hand, and a foreign body accompanies it.

S81.811A - Laceration without foreign body, right lower leg, initial encounter

This ICD-10 code is meant for a patient with a laceration on their right lower leg. A foreign body doesn’t accompany this laceration.

Click here to view on YouTube

Are these laceration ICD codes billable?

Yes. All of the aforementioned laceration-related ICD-10 codes are valid and billable.

Clinical information about lacerations:

Laceration is the term healthcare professionals use to refer to cuts and tears in the skin. These cuts/tears are caused by sharp objects or blunt trauma, always accompanied by bleeding. When the bleeding of a laceration has been stopped, there will be a visible opening in the skin.

There are two types of lacerations: shallow and deep. It's not that bad if the laceration is only superficial. The wound should mend and close by itself. All you need to do is stop the bleeding, clean the wound, and keep it away from anything irritating. Sadly, deep lacerations cannot be treated in the same way. Due to the risk of bleeding out and death, depending on the severity of the tear, such lacerations require immediate medical attention. Deep tears may also expose muscles and bones. To close these tears, stitches are required.

Synonyms include:

Complex laceration of the scalp
Contaminated complex laceration of the scalp
Laceration of nasal sinus
Laceration of the nasal sinus with complication
Laceration of the lower lip
Simple laceration of the circumoral region of the face
Complex laceration of the circumoral region of the face
Laceration of dorsum of hand
Laceration of hand

Commonly asked questions

All these codes have the term initial encounter in their names. What does it mean?

ICD codes with the initial encounter mean that the patient receives active treatment for whatever problem they have (lacerations, in the context of this guide). Note that codes with this label have two other variants: subsequent encounter and sequela.

The former means the patient is recovering and still receiving active treatment/routine care for the problem. The latter represents the patient dealing with the aftereffects of the crisis.

What does it mean if a foreign body accompanies a laceration?

This means that whatever caused the laceration is somehow still in the cut or has pierced through the area entirely and is still present. An example would be a nail causing a horizontal tear, and the pin is still within the cut.

How long does it take for a laceration to close up and heal?

That depends on how deep the cut is. It’s common for a laceration to heal within three months. If the laceration requires stitching, the stitches should help with the healing rate of the laceration. What might have been an estimated three months to heal can go down to a month and a half or two if it was appropriately stitched and the laceration was kept away from things that could infect or reopen it.