ICD-10 Guide

Lacerated Wound

ICD-10 Coding for Lacerated Wound(S61.011A)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYEmergency Medicine

COMPLEXITYHigh

LAST UPDATED09/15/2025

Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Lacerated Wound?

Essential facts and insights about Lacerated Wound

Key Clinical Considerations:

Visible break in skin integrity with potential tissue damage
Presence of bleeding, pain, and swelling
Signs of infection such as redness, warmth, and discharge

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Detailed description of the wound location, size, and depth
Use of specific terms such as 'laceration', 'contusion', or 'abrasion'
Examples include: 'Laceration of the right forearm, 3 cm in length, with moderate bleeding'

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Usage guidelines: Differentiate between superficial and deep lacerations for coding.
Common errors: Misclassifying lacerations as abrasions or failing to document the encounter type.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Excluded conditions: Open fractures, puncture wounds, and bites.
Alternative codes: Consider using codes for specific types of lacerations if applicable.

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Emergency Medicine

Specialty Applications

Patient populations: All age groups, particularly those at risk for trauma.
Clinical settings: Emergency departments, urgent care centers, and outpatient clinics.

Coding Complexity

High Complexity

This diagnosis requires careful attention to:

Comprehensive clinical documentation
Accurate code selection based on clinical criteria
Proper exclusion considerations
Specialty-specific coding guidelines

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Ensure proper documentation for billing
Verify code specificity requirements
Check for any additional codes needed
Review payer-specific guidelines

Common Issues

Insufficient clinical documentation
Incorrect code selection
Missing supporting diagnoses
Timing and frequency documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Document the mechanism of injury, wound characteristics, and treatment provided.

Billing considerations?

Ensure accurate coding based on the depth and location of the laceration for appropriate reimbursement.

Lacerated Wound

Diagnosis Overview

Key Clinical Considerations:

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Specialty Applications

Coding Complexity

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Billing considerations?

Lacerated Wound

Diagnosis Overview

Key Clinical Considerations:

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Specialty Applications

Coding Complexity

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Billing considerations?