S81
ICD-10Non-billable categoryOpen wound of knee and lower leg
Official ICD-10-CM descriptor (FY2026)
Open wound of knee and lower leg
S81 is a category heading, not a billable code. CMS does not accept it on a claim; report one of the more specific codes beneath it.
Excludes1
Not coded here. An Excludes1 code should never be reported at the same time as the code above it.
- open fracture of knee and lower leg (S82.-)
- traumatic amputation of lower leg (S88.-)
Excludes2
Not included here. The condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, and both codes may be reported together.
- open wound of ankle and foot (S91.-)
Code also
Two codes may be needed; sequencing depends on the reason for the encounter.
- any associated wound infection
7th character
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S81
Permitted 7th characters
| A | initial encounter |
| D | subsequent encounter |
| S | sequela |
More specific codes under S81
Where this code sits
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ICD-10-CM FY2026. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) / National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), “2026 ICD-10-CM Code Descriptions in Tabular Order” (icd10cm_order_2026.txt). Download the original file from cms.gov. Public domain (US Government work). Descriptors, billable flags and instructional notes on this page are reproduced from that file without modification. Krasyn adds no clinical guidance.