Z18.1
Retained metal fragments
Non-billable headerNot valid on its own. Use one of the more specific codes under it.
Z18.1 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code header for retained metal 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 Z18.10 Retained metal fragments, unspecified; Z18.11 Retained magnetic metal fragments and Z18.12 Retained nonmagnetic metal fragments. Its coding notes include 9 Excludes1 entries.
Excludes1
Not coded here. The listed conditions generally should not be reported together.
Inherited from Z18 Retained foreign body fragments
- 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.
Inherited from Z18 Retained foreign body fragments
- 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.