2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H92.10Otorrhea, unspecified ear

ICD-10-CM Codes›H60–H95›H90-H94›H92

ICD-10-CM H92.10
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

H92.10 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for otorrhea, unspecified ear. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 154 through 156. Coders also document this condition as ear discharge. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other specified and unspecified disorders of the ear.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H92.10
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Otorrhea, unspecified ear
Short Description
Otorrhea, unspecified ear
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H92.1
Otorrhea

Code Classification

ChapterH60–H95Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
SectionH90-H94Other disorders of ear
CategoryH92Otalgia and effusion of ear
This CodeH92.10Otorrhea, unspecified ear

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Ear discharge
  • Ear discharge present
  • Ear discharge symptoms
  • Foul odor drainage from external ear canal
  • Otorrhea
  • Purulent drainage from external ear canal
  • Waxy discharge from ear

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to H92.10: its own notes plus those printed at H92.1 and Chapter 8. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

From H92.1 Otorrhea applies to 4 codes
  • leakage of cerebrospinal fluid through ear (G96.0)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 8 (H60-H95) Diseases of the ear and mastoid process applies to 653 codes
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 8 (H60-H95) Diseases of the ear and mastoid process applies to 653 codes
  • Use an external cause code following the code for the ear condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the ear condition

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR EAR006
Other specified and unspecified disorders of the ear
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Otorrhea

    discharge or drainage of fluid from the ear.

Patient EducationClinical

Ear Disorders

An ear disorder is any condition that changes or harms the shape or structure of your ear. This can include abnormal ear shapes you're born with, injuries that change your ear's shape, and a growth on or in the ear.

The full article covers:

  • What is an ear disorder?
  • What causes ear disorders?
  • What are the symptoms of ear disorders?
  • How are ear disorders diagnosed?
  • How are ear disorders treated?
  • Can ear disorders be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert H92.10 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
388.60 Otorrhea NOS
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About H92.10Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for otorrhea, unspecified ear?

The ICD-10-CM code for otorrhea, unspecified ear is H92.10 (sometimes written as H9210). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is H92.10 (Otorrhea) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report otorrhea, unspecified ear on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does H92.10 group to?

When otorrhea, unspecified ear is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 156, 155, 154, with relative weights from 0.6656 to 1.5916 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can H92.10 be reported with G96.0?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at H92.1, which applies to H92.10, lists "leakage of cerebrospinal fluid through ear (G96.0)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H92.10?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, otorrhea, unspecified ear converts to ICD-9-CM 388.60 (otorrhea NOS). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.