Injury, poisoning and other consequences of external causes
This chapter covers ICD-10-CM codes in the range S00-T88 for injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes. Covers injuries, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes including fractures, burns, and toxic effects.
Chapter Overview
Key Statistics
- •Contains 38 categories and 168 total codes
- •Includes 7 billable codes and 161 non-billable codes
- •Chapter range: S00-T88
Clinical Relevance
Critical for trauma, poisoning, and injury coding. Essential for emergency medicine, trauma surgery, and toxicology.
Documentation Requirements
Requires external cause codes, injury mechanism, intent, and place of occurrence. Healing status for follow-up encounters.
Special Considerations
Seventh character extensions required for episode of care. External cause codes are mandatory for complete coding.
Categories in this Chapter
Injuries to the head
Injuries to the head
Injuries to the elbow and forearm
Injuries to the elbow and forearm
Injuries to the wrist, hand and fingers
Injuries to the wrist, hand and fingers
Injuries to the hip and thigh
Injuries to the hip and thigh
Injuries to the knee and lower leg
Injuries to the knee and lower leg
Injuries to the ankle and foot
Injuries to the neck
Injuries to the neck
Injuries to the thorax
Injuries to the thorax
Injuries to the abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine, pelvis and external genitals
Injuries to the abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine, pelvis and external genitals
Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm
Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm
Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified
Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified
Effects of foreign body entering through natural orifice
Effects of foreign body entering through natural orifice
Burns and corrosions of external body surface, specified by site
Burns and corrosions of external body surface, specified by site
Frostbite
Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of drugs, medicaments and biological substances
Burns and corrosions confined to eye and internal organs
Frostbite
Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of drugs, medicaments and biological substances
Burns and corrosions confined to eye and internal organs
Toxic effects of substances chiefly nonmedicinal as to source
Burns and corrosions of multiple and unspecified body regions
Toxic effects of substances chiefly nonmedicinal as to source
Burns and corrosions of multiple and unspecified body regions
Other and unspecified effects of external causes
Other and unspecified effects of external causes
Injuries to the ankle and foot
Chapter-Specific Coding Guidelines
General Guidelines for Injury, poisoning and other consequences of external causes:
- Follow standard ICD-10-CM coding principles for injury, poisoning and other consequences of external causes
- Document the most specific diagnosis supported by the medical record
- Use additional codes for manifestations, complications, or associated conditions
- Ensure proper sequencing based on the reason for the encounter
Documentation Requirements:
- •Specific condition or disease process
- •Acute versus chronic status when applicable
- •Severity or stage when documented
- •Associated symptoms or complications
- •Treatment response and current status
Sequencing Rules:
- Principal diagnosis should reflect the main reason for the encounter
- Sequence complications according to treatment focus
- Use appropriate combination codes when available
- Follow chapter-specific sequencing guidelines
When to Use:
- ✓For conditions classified in the S00-T88 range
- ✓When the condition is the primary focus of care
- ✓During active treatment or monitoring
- ✓For documented complications of the condition
When NOT to Use:
- ✗For personal history without current manifestations
- ✗During screening encounters without findings
- ✗For conditions better classified elsewhere
- ✗When condition is ruled out or suspected only
Special Considerations:
- ⚠Review chapter-specific coding guidelines
- ⚠Consider combination codes before multiple codes
- ⚠Document functional impact when relevant
- ⚠Use external cause codes when applicable
Version Updates
The 2025 ICD-10-CM updates include refinements to injury, poisoning and other consequences of external causes coding for improved specificity and clinical relevance.
Recent Updates:
Enhanced Injury, poisoning and other consequences of external causes Specificity
Updated codes within S00-T88 for improved clinical documentation
Impact: Better alignment with clinical practice and quality reporting
Implementation Guidance:
- •Review all injury, poisoning and other consequences of external causes coding practices
- •Update documentation templates as needed
- •Train coding staff on any new requirements
- •Implement quality checks for accuracy
Upcoming Changes:
- →Potential enhancements to injury, poisoning and other consequences of external causes codes in future updates
- →Continued alignment with clinical practice evolution
Related Resources
Key resources for injury, poisoning and other consequences of external causes coding and clinical documentation.
Official Documentation:
Related Chapters:
Tools and References:
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key considerations when coding injury, poisoning and other consequences of external causes?
Focus on specific diagnosis documentation, proper sequencing, and use of additional codes for complications or manifestations related to injury, poisoning and other consequences of external causes.
How do I determine the most appropriate code within this chapter?
Review the medical documentation for the most specific diagnosis, check for combination codes, and follow the ICD-10-CM guidelines for this chapter.
When should I use additional codes?
Use additional codes for manifestations, complications, external causes, or other conditions that affect patient care during the encounter.