2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code O70.3Fourth degree perineal laceration during delivery

ICD-10-CM Codes›O00-O9A›O60-O77›O70

ICD-10-CM O70.3
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

O70.3 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for fourth degree perineal laceration during delivery. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is restricted by the Medicare Code Editor to maternity cases (age 9 through 64). Coders also document this condition as anal mucosa finding. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under OB-related trauma to perineum and vulva.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
O70.3
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Fourth degree perineal laceration during delivery
Short Description
Fourth degree perineal laceration during delivery
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
O70
Perineal laceration during delivery

Code Classification

ChapterO00-O9APregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
SectionO60-O77Complications of labor and delivery
CategoryO70Perineal laceration during delivery
This CodeO70.3Fourth degree perineal laceration during delivery

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for O70.3.

Maternity diagnoses
The Medicare Code Editor detects inconsistencies in maternity cases by checking a patient's age and any diagnosis on the patient's record. The maternity code edits apply to patients age ange is 9–64 years inclusive (e.g., diabetes in pregnancy, antepartum pulmonary complication).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Anal mucosa finding
  • Fourth degree perineal laceration
  • Fourth degree perineal laceration involving anal mucosa
  • Fourth degree perineal laceration involving rectal mucosa
  • Fourth degree perineal tear during delivery with postnatal problem
  • Injury of anal canal
  • Open wound of anus

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Perineal laceration, rupture or tear during delivery as in O70.2
  • Perineal laceration, rupture or tear during delivery as in O70.2

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Delivery(childbirth) (labor)
      • complicated
        • by
          • laceration (perineal)
            • anus (sphincter)
              • with third degree laceration
                • with mucosa
    • Delivery(childbirth) (labor)
      • complicated
        • by
          • laceration (perineal)
            • perineum, perineal
              • fourth degree
    • Delivery(childbirth) (labor)
      • complicated
        • by
          • laceration (perineal)
            • rectovaginal (septum) (without perineal laceration)
              • with perineum
                • with anal or rectal mucosa
    • Laceration
      • perineum
        • female
          • during delivery
            • fourth degree
    • Tear, torn(traumatic)
      • anus, anal (sphincter)
        • complicating delivery
          • with third degree perineal laceration
            • with mucosa

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR PRG026
OB-related trauma to perineum and vulva
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Fourth Degree Perineal Laceration

    injury to perineum involving anal sphincter complex and internal anal sphincter and anal epithelium. (revitalize)

Patient EducationClinical

Postpartum Care

Taking home a new baby is one of the happiest times in a woman's life. But it also presents both physical and emotional challenges. :

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert O70.3 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
664.31 Del w 4 deg lacerat-del
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
664.34 Del w 4 deg lac-postpart
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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About O70.3Overview

Is O70.3 (Perineal laceration during delivery) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report fourth degree perineal laceration during delivery on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Who can O70.3 be reported for?

The Medicare Code Editor checks fourth degree perineal laceration during delivery against patient demographics: this code is intended for maternity cases (age 9 through 64). Claims outside these limits are flagged as inconsistent.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of O70.3?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, fourth degree perineal laceration during delivery converts to ICD-9-CM 664.31 (del w 4 deg lacerat-del) and 664.34 (del w 4 deg lac-postpart). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.