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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesInjuries to the knee and lower legICD-10-CM s81-open-wound-knee-lower-leg
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    ICD-10-CM Code For Open Wound Of Knee And Lower Leg: Group Overview

    The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group S81 includes open wounds of the knee and lower leg, such as lacerations, puncture wounds, and avulsions that involve skin, subcutaneous tissue, and sometimes deeper structures. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document clinical scenarios that capture wound depth, contamination, laterality, and any associated complications or involvement of underlying structures. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM S81 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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    ICD-10-CM S81: Open Wound Of Knee And Lower Leg Overview

    The ICD-10-CM S81 group represents open wounds affecting the knee and lower leg, including lacerations, punctures, and avulsions of the skin and soft tissues in that anatomical region. These diagnoses target the integumentary and musculoskeletal structures of the knee and lower leg and frequently involve consideration of contamination, depth, and associated neurovascular injury. Accurate coding matters for reimbursement because it documents wound severity, procedures performed, and resource utilization tied to wound management and potential complications.

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    When to Use

    Use a code from this group when a patient presents with an acute or chronic open wound of the knee or lower leg that requires clinical documentation of wound characteristics, treatment, or follow-up. Select codes reflecting laterality, wound depth, and any associated infection or complications to accurately represent the clinical encounter.

    ICD-10-CM Codes

    108 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    S81.001AUnspecified open wound, right knee, initial encounter
    S81.001DUnspecified open wound, right knee, subsequent encounter
    S81.001SUnspecified open wound, right knee, sequela
    S81.002AUnspecified open wound, left knee, initial encounter
    S81.002DUnspecified open wound, left knee, subsequent encounter
    S81.002SUnspecified open wound, left knee, sequela
    S81.009AUnspecified open wound, unspecified knee, initial encounter
    S81.009DUnspecified open wound, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter
    S81.009SUnspecified open wound, unspecified knee, sequela
    S81.011ALaceration without foreign body, right knee, initial encounter
    S81.011DLaceration without foreign body, right knee, subsequent encounter
    S81.011SLaceration without foreign body, right knee, sequela
    S81.012ALaceration without foreign body, left knee, initial encounter
    S81.012DLaceration without foreign body, left knee, subsequent encounter
    S81.012SLaceration without foreign body, left knee, sequela
    S81.019ALaceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, initial encounter
    S81.019DLaceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter
    S81.019SLaceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, sequela
    S81.021ALaceration with foreign body, right knee, initial encounter
    S81.021DLaceration with foreign body, right knee, subsequent encounter

    Showing 1–20 of 108

    DRG Codes

    9 rows

    DRG CodeDescription
    604Trauma to the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast with MCC
    605Trauma to the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast without MCC
    913Traumatic Injury with MCC
    914Traumatic Injury without MCC
    949Aftercare with CC/MCC
    950Aftercare without CC/MCC
    963Other Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC
    964Other Multiple Significant Trauma with CC
    965Other Multiple Significant Trauma without CC/MCC

    Related Codes

    S80-SUPERFICIAL-INJURY-KNEE-LOWER-LEG

    ICD-10-CM Code For Superficial Injury Of Knee And Lower Leg: Group Overview

    S82-FRACTURE-OF-LOWER-LEG

    ICD-10-CM Code For Fracture Of Lower Leg, Including Ankle: Group Overview

    S83-DISLOCATION-AND-SPRAIN-OF-KNEE

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

    S84-INJURY-OF-LOWER-LEG-NERVES

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

    S85-INJURY-OF-BLOOD-VESSELS-LOWER-LEG

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

    S87-CRUSHING-INJURY-LOWER-LEG

    ICD-10-CM Code For Crushing Injury Of Lower Leg: Group Overview

    S88-TRAUMATIC-AMPUTATION-OF-LOWER-LEG

    ICD-10-CM Code For Traumatic Amputation Of Lower Leg: Group Overview

    S89-OTHER-AND-UNSPECIFIED-INJURIES-OF-LOWER-LEG

    ICD-10-CM Code For Other And Unspecified Injuries Of Lower Leg: Group Overview

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 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. 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. 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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