Z18
Retained foreign body fragments
Non-billable headerNot valid on its own. Use one of the more specific codes under it.
Z18 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code category for retained foreign body fragments. 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 Z18.0 Retained radioactive fragments, Z18.1 Retained metal fragments, Z18.2 Retained plastic fragments, Z18.3 Retained organic fragments and 2 more. Its coding notes include 8 Excludes1 entries.
Excludes1
Not coded here. The listed conditions generally should not be reported together.
This code
- artificial joint prosthesis status (Z96.6-)
- foreign body accidentally left during a procedure (T81.5-)
- foreign body entering through orifice (T15-T19)
- in situ cardiac device (Z95.-)
- organ or tissue replaced by means other than transplant (Z96.-, Z97.-)
- organ or tissue replaced by transplant (Z94.-)
- personal history of retained foreign body fully removed Z87.821
- superficial foreign body (non-embedded splinter) - code to superficial foreign body, by site
Includes
Further defines or gives examples of the content of the category.
This code
- embedded fragment (status)
- embedded splinter (status)
- retained foreign body status
Notes
Also from chapter/block level (3 notes)
Inherited from Chapter 21 Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
- Z codes represent reasons for encounters. A corresponding procedure code must accompany a Z code if a procedure is performed. Categories Z00-Z99 are provided for occasions when circumstances other than a disease, injury or external cause classifiable to categories A00-Y89 are recorded as 'diagnoses' or 'problems'. This can arise in two main ways:
- (a) When a person who may or may not be sick encounters the health services for some specific purpose, such as to receive limited care or service for a current condition, to donate an organ or tissue, to receive prophylactic vaccination (immunization), or to discuss a problem which is in itself not a disease or injury.
- (b) When some circumstance or problem is present which influences the person's health status but is not in itself a current illness or injury.