Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S81.8

Open wound of lower leg

ICD-10-CM Code:
S81.8
ICD-10 Code for:
Open wound of lower leg
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
    (S00–T88)
    • Injuries to the knee and lower leg
      (S80-S89)
      • Open wound of knee and lower leg
        (S81)

S81.8 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of open wound of lower leg. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Open wound of lower leg

Non-specific codes like S81.8 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for open wound of lower leg:

  • S81.80 for Unspecified open wound of lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.801 for Unspecified open wound, right lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.801A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.801D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.801S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.802 for Unspecified open wound, left lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.802A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.802D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.802S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.809 for Unspecified open wound, unspecified lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.809A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.809D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.809S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.81 for Laceration without foreign body of lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.811 for Laceration without foreign body, right lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.811A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.811D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.811S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.812 for Laceration without foreign body, left lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.812A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.812D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.812S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.819 for Laceration without foreign body, unspecified lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.819A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.819D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.819S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.82 for Laceration with foreign body of lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.821 for Laceration with foreign body, right lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.821A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.821D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.821S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.822 for Laceration with foreign body, left lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.822A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.822D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.822S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.829 for Laceration with foreign body, unspecified lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.829A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.829D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.829S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.83 for Puncture wound without foreign body of lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.831 for Puncture wound without foreign body, right lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.831A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.831D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.831S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.832 for Puncture wound without foreign body, left lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.832A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.832D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.832S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.839 for Puncture wound without foreign body, unspecified lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.839A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.839D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.839S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.84 for Puncture wound with foreign body of lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.841 for Puncture wound with foreign body, right lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.841A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.841D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.841S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.842 for Puncture wound with foreign body, left lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.842A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.842D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.842S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.849 for Puncture wound with foreign body, unspecified lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.849A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.849D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.849S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.85 for Open bite of lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.851 for Open bite, right lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.851A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.851D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.851S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.852 for Open bite, left lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.852A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.852D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.852S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S81.859 for Open bite, unspecified lower leg - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.859A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.859D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S81.859S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

Coding Guidelines

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Open wound of knee and lower leg (S81). Use the following options for the aplicable episode of care:

  • A - initial encounter
  • D - subsequent encounter
  • S - sequela

Patient Education


Wounds and Injuries

An injury is damage to your body. It is a general term that refers to harm caused by accidents, falls, hits, weapons, and more. In the U.S., millions of people injure themselves every year. These injuries range from minor to life-threatening. Injuries can happen at work or play, indoors or outdoors, driving a car, or walking across the street.

Wounds are injuries that break the skin or other body tissues. They include cuts, scrapes, scratches, and punctured skin. They often happen because of an accident, but surgery, sutures, and stitches also cause wounds. Minor wounds usually aren't serious, but it is important to clean them. Serious and infected wounds may require first aid followed by a visit to your doctor. You should also seek attention if the wound is deep, you cannot close it yourself, you cannot stop the bleeding or get the dirt out, or it does not heal.

Other common types of injuries include:

  • Animal bites
  • Bruises
  • Burns
  • Dislocations
  • Electrical injuries
  • Fractures (broken bones)
  • Sprains and strains

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.