ICD-10-CM Code For Superficial Injury Of Elbow And Forearm: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group S50 includes superficial injuries of the elbow and forearm such as abrasions, superficial lacerations, and contusions that involve skin and subcutaneous tissue without deeper structure damage. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document clinical encounters for minor trauma to the elbow and forearm, capturing location, laterality, and specific injury type relevant to this group. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM S50 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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ICD-10-CM S50: Superficial Injury Of Elbow And Forearm Overview

The ICD-10-CM S50 group represents superficial injuries to the elbow and forearm, including abrasions, contusions, and superficial lacerations that affect skin and subcutaneous tissue. These diagnoses target the musculoskeletal and integumentary structures of the upper limb. Accurate coding is important for correct claim adjudication and reflects the clinical details needed for treatment and follow-up care.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when the clinical documentation describes a superficial injury to the elbow or forearm without involvement of deeper tissues such as muscles, tendons, nerves, or bones. Select the code that reflects the precise injury type and laterality as documented in the medical record.

ICD-10-CM Codes

144 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
S50.00XA	Contusion of unspecified elbow, initial encounter
S50.00XD	Contusion of unspecified elbow, subsequent encounter
S50.00XS	Contusion of unspecified elbow, sequela
S50.01XA	Contusion of right elbow, initial encounter
S50.01XD	Contusion of right elbow, subsequent encounter
S50.01XS	Contusion of right elbow, sequela
S50.02XA	Contusion of left elbow, initial encounter
S50.02XD	Contusion of left elbow, subsequent encounter
S50.02XS	Contusion of left elbow, sequela
S50.10XA	Contusion of unspecified forearm, initial encounter
S50.10XD	Contusion of unspecified forearm, subsequent encounter
S50.10XS	Contusion of unspecified forearm, sequela
S50.11XA	Contusion of right forearm, initial encounter
S50.11XD	Contusion of right forearm, subsequent encounter
S50.11XS	Contusion of right forearm, sequela
S50.12XA	Contusion of left forearm, initial encounter
S50.12XD	Contusion of left forearm, subsequent encounter
S50.12XS	Contusion of left forearm, sequela
S50.311A	Abrasion of right elbow, initial encounter
S50.311D	Abrasion of right elbow, subsequent encounter

Showing 1–20 of 144

DRG Codes

9 rows

DRG Code	Description
604	Trauma to the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast with MCC
605	Trauma to the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast without MCC
606	Minor Skin Disorders with MCC
607	Minor Skin Disorders without MCC
949	Aftercare with CC/MCC
950	Aftercare without CC/MCC
963	Other Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC
964	Other Multiple Significant Trauma with CC
965	Other Multiple Significant Trauma without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A middle-aged cyclist presents to urgent care after falling on an outstretched arm during a road crash earlier the same day. He has superficial grazes and abrasions with localized swelling and intact neurovascular exam; no deep laceration or fracture is suspected. A superficial injury code from this group is assigned to capture the acute traumatic abrasion of the elbow/forearm on initial encounter. Typical codes: S50.10XA, S50.11XA
An elderly woman reports an irritated, healing superficial laceration over her forearm three weeks after tripping at home; she returns for wound check and dressing change because of mild persistent tenderness but no signs of deep infection. The visit documents ongoing care of a superficial injury during a sequela stage or subsequent encounter for the same initial trauma, so a subsequent encounter or sequela code from this group is used. Typical codes: S50.10XD, S50.10XS
A young construction worker presents to occupational medicine with multiple superficial punctures and abrasions of the elbow and forearm from metal debris sustained on the job; he requires tetanus prophylaxis and wound cleaning but has intact tendon and joint function. The encounter documents an acute superficial injury related to work, and an appropriate initial encounter code from this group is assigned to reflect the acute occupational trauma. Typical codes: S50.00XA, S50.01XA

Related Codes

S51-OPEN-WOUND-OF-ELBOW-AND-FOREARM

ICD-10-CM Code For Open Wound Of Elbow And Forearm: Group Overview

S52-FRACTURE-OF-FOREARM

ICD-10-CM Code For Fracture Of Forearm: Group Overview

S53-DISLOCATION-AND-SPRAIN-ELBOW

ICD-10-CM Code For Dislocation And Sprain Of Joints And Ligaments Of Elbow: Group Overview

S54-INJURY-OF-FOREARM-NERVES

ICD-10-CM Code For Injury Of Nerves At Forearm Level: Group Overview

S55-INJURY-OF-BLOOD-VESSELS-FOREARM

ICD-10-CM Code For Injury Of Blood Vessels At Forearm Level: Group Overview

S56-INJURY-OF-FOREARM-SOFT-TISSUES

ICD-10-CM Code For Injury Of Muscle, Fascia And Tendon At Forearm Level: Group Overview

S57-CRUSHING-INJURY-ELBOW-FOREARM

ICD-10-CM Code For Crushing Injury Of Elbow And Forearm: Group Overview

S58-TRAUMATIC-AMPUTATION-OF-ELBOW-AND-FOREARM

ICD-10-CM Code For Traumatic Amputation Of Elbow And Forearm: Group Overview

S59-OTHER-AND-UNSPECIFIED-INJURIES-ELBOW-FOREARM

ICD-10-CM Code For Other And Unspecified Injuries Of Elbow And Forearm: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

144 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
S50.00XA	Contusion of unspecified elbow, initial encounter
S50.00XD	Contusion of unspecified elbow, subsequent encounter
S50.00XS	Contusion of unspecified elbow, sequela
S50.01XA	Contusion of right elbow, initial encounter
S50.01XD	Contusion of right elbow, subsequent encounter
S50.01XS	Contusion of right elbow, sequela
S50.02XA	Contusion of left elbow, initial encounter
S50.02XD	Contusion of left elbow, subsequent encounter
S50.02XS	Contusion of left elbow, sequela
S50.10XA	Contusion of unspecified forearm, initial encounter
S50.10XD	Contusion of unspecified forearm, subsequent encounter
S50.10XS	Contusion of unspecified forearm, sequela
S50.11XA	Contusion of right forearm, initial encounter
S50.11XD	Contusion of right forearm, subsequent encounter
S50.11XS	Contusion of right forearm, sequela
S50.12XA	Contusion of left forearm, initial encounter
S50.12XD	Contusion of left forearm, subsequent encounter
S50.12XS	Contusion of left forearm, sequela
S50.311A	Abrasion of right elbow, initial encounter
S50.311D	Abrasion of right elbow, subsequent encounter

Showing 1–20 of 144

DRG Codes

9 rows

DRG Code	Description
604	Trauma to the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast with MCC
605	Trauma to the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast without MCC
606	Minor Skin Disorders with MCC
607	Minor Skin Disorders without MCC
949	Aftercare with CC/MCC
950	Aftercare without CC/MCC
963	Other Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC
964	Other Multiple Significant Trauma with CC
965	Other Multiple Significant Trauma without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A middle-aged cyclist presents to urgent care after falling on an outstretched arm during a road crash earlier the same day. He has superficial grazes and abrasions with localized swelling and intact neurovascular exam; no deep laceration or fracture is suspected. A superficial injury code from this group is assigned to capture the acute traumatic abrasion of the elbow/forearm on initial encounter. Typical codes: S50.10XA, S50.11XA
An elderly woman reports an irritated, healing superficial laceration over her forearm three weeks after tripping at home; she returns for wound check and dressing change because of mild persistent tenderness but no signs of deep infection. The visit documents ongoing care of a superficial injury during a sequela stage or subsequent encounter for the same initial trauma, so a subsequent encounter or sequela code from this group is used. Typical codes: S50.10XD, S50.10XS
A young construction worker presents to occupational medicine with multiple superficial punctures and abrasions of the elbow and forearm from metal debris sustained on the job; he requires tetanus prophylaxis and wound cleaning but has intact tendon and joint function. The encounter documents an acute superficial injury related to work, and an appropriate initial encounter code from this group is assigned to reflect the acute occupational trauma. Typical codes: S50.00XA, S50.01XA

Related Codes

S51-OPEN-WOUND-OF-ELBOW-AND-FOREARM

ICD-10-CM Code For Open Wound Of Elbow And Forearm: Group Overview

S52-FRACTURE-OF-FOREARM

ICD-10-CM Code For Fracture Of Forearm: Group Overview

S53-DISLOCATION-AND-SPRAIN-ELBOW

ICD-10-CM Code For Dislocation And Sprain Of Joints And Ligaments Of Elbow: Group Overview

S54-INJURY-OF-FOREARM-NERVES

ICD-10-CM Code For Injury Of Nerves At Forearm Level: Group Overview

S55-INJURY-OF-BLOOD-VESSELS-FOREARM

ICD-10-CM Code For Injury Of Blood Vessels At Forearm Level: Group Overview

S56-INJURY-OF-FOREARM-SOFT-TISSUES

ICD-10-CM Code For Injury Of Muscle, Fascia And Tendon At Forearm Level: Group Overview

S57-CRUSHING-INJURY-ELBOW-FOREARM

ICD-10-CM Code For Crushing Injury Of Elbow And Forearm: Group Overview

S58-TRAUMATIC-AMPUTATION-OF-ELBOW-AND-FOREARM

ICD-10-CM Code For Traumatic Amputation Of Elbow And Forearm: Group Overview

S59-OTHER-AND-UNSPECIFIED-INJURIES-ELBOW-FOREARM

ICD-10-CM Code For Other And Unspecified Injuries Of Elbow And Forearm: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-CM Code For Superficial Injury Of Elbow And Forearm: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Superficial Injury Of Elbow And Forearm: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM S50: Superficial Injury Of Elbow And Forearm Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Superficial Injury Of Elbow And Forearm: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Superficial Injury Of Elbow And Forearm: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM S50: Superficial Injury Of Elbow And Forearm Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which injuries are included in the ICD-10-CM S50 group?

How does laterality and encounter type appear in S50 codes?

Can S50 codes be used to document minor trauma for claim adjudication?

What code examples indicate abrasions, blisters, and contusions in this group?

Which DRGs are related to the S50 diagnosis group?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which injuries are included in the ICD-10-CM S50 group?

How does laterality and encounter type appear in S50 codes?

Can S50 codes be used to document minor trauma for claim adjudication?

What code examples indicate abrasions, blisters, and contusions in this group?

Which DRGs are related to the S50 diagnosis group?

References