S00.9
Superficial injury of unspecified part of head
S00.9 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code header for superficial injury of unspecified part of head. Report a more specific code from it instead. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. The more specific codes under it are S00.90 Unspecified superficial injury of unspecified part of head, S00.91 Abrasion of unspecified part of head, S00.92 Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified part of head, S00.93 Contusion of unspecified part of head and 4 more. Its coding notes include a Use additional code instruction, a Code also instruction, 4 Excludes1 entries and 11 Excludes2 entries.
7th characters
Every code below needs one of these (defined at S00).
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S00
- Ainitial encounter
- Dsubsequent encounter
- Ssequela
Guidelines tips
From the FY2027 Official Guidelines. ICD10Ref adds no rules of its own.
The 7th character depends on whether the patient is in active treatment, not on who sees the patient. An aftercare Z code is not used for injury aftercare.
Each injury gets its own code unless a combination code exists, with the most serious injury first. Superficial injuries at the same site as a more severe injury are not coded. Injuries during medical care are coded as complications.
Use additional code
Add the listed code as a secondary code, if known.
Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Code also
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition. This note gives no sequencing order.
Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
- for any associated infection
Excludes1
Not coded here. The listed conditions generally should not be reported together.
Excludes2
Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.
Also from chapter/block level (11 notes)
- burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
- effects of foreign body in ear (T16)
- effects of foreign body in larynx (T17.3)
- effects of foreign body in mouth NOS (T18.0)
- effects of foreign body in nose (T17.0-T17.1)
- effects of foreign body in pharynx (T17.2)
- effects of foreign body on external eye (T15.-)
- frostbite (T33-T34)
- insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
- birth trauma (P10-P15)
- obstetric trauma (O70-O71)
Includes
Further defines or gives examples of the content of the category.
Also from chapter/block level (12 notes)
- injuries of ear
- injuries of eye
- injuries of face [any part]
- injuries of gum
- injuries of jaw
- injuries of oral cavity
- injuries of palate
- injuries of periocular area
- injuries of scalp
- injuries of temporomandibular joint area
- injuries of tongue
- injuries of tooth
Notes
Also from chapter/block level (2 notes)
- Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code
- The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.
More specific codes under S00.9 8
- S00.90Unspecified superficial injury of unspecified part of head7th char needed
- S00.91Abrasion of unspecified part of head7th char needed
- S00.92Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified part of head7th char needed
- S00.93Contusion of unspecified part of head7th char needed
- S00.94External constriction of unspecified part of head7th char needed
- S00.95Superficial foreign body of unspecified part of head7th char needed
- S00.96Insect bite (nonvenomous) of unspecified part of head7th char needed
- S00.97Other superficial bite of unspecified part of head7th char needed