Alphabetic Index FY2027

W44

Foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice

FY2027Chapter 20: External causes of morbidity/W20–W49 Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces

Non-billable headerNot valid on its own. Use one of the more specific codes under it.

W44 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code category for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice. 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 W44.A Battery entering into or through a natural orifice, W44.B Plastic entering into or through a natural orifice, W44.C Glass entering into or through a natural orifice, W44.D Magnetic metal entering into or through a natural orifice and 6 more. Its coding notes include 4 Excludes1 entries and 3 Excludes2 entries.

7th characters

Every code below needs one of these.

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category W44

  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter
  • Ssequela

Guidelines tip

From the FY2027 Official Guidelines. ICD10Ref adds no rules of its own.

An external cause code is never a principal or first-listed diagnosis. Its 7th character is assigned for each encounter and should match the injury or condition code.

Guidelines I.C.20.a.2; I.C.20.a.6External cause codesRead the official text

Excludes1

Not coded here. The listed conditions generally should not be reported together.

Also from chapter/block level (4 notes)
Inherited from W20–W49 Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces
  • assault (X92-Y09)
  • contact or collision with animals or persons (W50-W64)
  • exposure to inanimate mechanical forces involving military or war operations (Y36.-, Y37.-)
  • intentional self-harm (X71-X83)

Excludes2

Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.

This code
  • contact with other sharp objects (W26)
  • contact with sharp glass (W25)
  • foreign body or object entering through skin (W45)

Notes

Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from Chapter 20 External causes of morbidity
  • This chapter permits the classification of environmental events and circumstances as the cause of injury, and other adverse effects. Where a code from this section is applicable, it is intended that it shall be used secondary to a code from another chapter of the Classification indicating the nature of the condition. Most often, the condition will be classifiable to Chapter 19, Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88). Other conditions that may be stated to be due to external causes are classified in Chapters I to XVIII. For these conditions, codes from Chapter 20 should be used to provide additional information as to the cause of the condition.

More specific codes under W44 10