2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code O71.4Obstetric high vaginal laceration alone

ICD-10-CM Codes›O00-O9A›O60-O77›O71

ICD-10-CM O71.4
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

O71.4 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for obstetric high vaginal laceration alone. 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 genital tear resulting from childbirth. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Complications specified during childbirth.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
O71.4
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Obstetric high vaginal laceration alone
Short Description
Obstetric high vaginal laceration alone
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
O71
Other obstetric trauma

Code Classification

ChapterO00-O9APregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
SectionO60-O77Complications of labor and delivery
CategoryO71Other obstetric trauma
This CodeO71.4Obstetric high vaginal laceration alone

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for O71.4.

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.

  • Genital tear resulting from childbirth
  • Obstetric high vaginal laceration
  • Trauma to vagina during delivery
  • Vaginal tear resulting from childbirth

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Laceration of vaginal wall without perineal laceration

Type 1 Excludes

  • obstetric high vaginal laceration with perineal laceration O70

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)
            • rectovaginal (septum) (without perineal laceration)
    • Delivery(childbirth) (labor)
      • complicated
        • by
          • laceration (perineal)
            • vagina, vaginal (deep) (high) (without perineal laceration)
    • Injury
      • instrumental (during surgery)
        • obstetrical
          • high vaginal
    • Laceration
      • vagina
        • during delivery
    • Perforation, perforated(nontraumatic) (of)
      • vagina
        • obstetrical trauma

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR PRG023
Complications specified during childbirth
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

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 O71.4 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
665.41 High vaginal lacer-deliv
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
665.44 High vaginal lac-postpar
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 O71.4Overview

Is O71.4 (Other obstetric trauma) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report obstetric high vaginal laceration alone on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Who can O71.4 be reported for?

The Medicare Code Editor checks obstetric high vaginal laceration alone 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 O71.4?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, obstetric high vaginal laceration alone converts to ICD-9-CM 665.41 (high vaginal lacer-deliv) and 665.44 (high vaginal lac-postpar). 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.