Alphabetic Index

How to use the Index

1. Find the main term. This is usually the disease, injury or condition (for example Appendicitis or Fracture), or an adjective that describes it (for example Chronic), rather than the body part.
2. Follow the indented subterms to the most specific description that matches the documentation.
3. Follow cross-references. A see note is required: go to the term it names. A see also note points to another term worth checking, and you can skip it when the main term already gives the code you need.
4. Watch for a dash. A code ending in a dash (-) is incomplete and needs more characters. Even without a dash, check the Tabular List for a required 7th character.
5. Confirm the code in the Tabular List. Never code from the Index alone. The Tabular List is the official list of codes, and each code page here is its entry, with the notes (Includes, Excludes1, Excludes2, Code first and others), sequencing instructions and 7th characters that decide whether the code is right.