2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code O71.6Obstetric damage to pelvic joints and ligaments

ICD-10-CM Codes›O00-O9A›O60-O77›O71

ICD-10-CM O71.6
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

O71.6 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for obstetric damage to pelvic joints and ligaments. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 769, 776. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) and moves an inpatient stay to a higher severity level within its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 250 closely related codes. The code is restricted by the Medicare Code Editor to maternity cases (age 9 through 64). Coders also document this condition as avulsion of inner symphyseal cartilage during delivery. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Complications specified during childbirth.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
O71.6
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Obstetric damage to pelvic joints and ligaments
Short Description
Obstetric damage to pelvic joints and ligaments
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 CodeO71.6Obstetric damage to pelvic joints and ligaments

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for O71.6.

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.

  • Avulsion of inner symphyseal cartilage during delivery
  • Damage of joint of pelvic wall during vaginal delivery
  • Damage of ligament of pelvic girdle during vaginal delivery
  • Damage to coccyx during delivery
  • Separation of symphysis pubis during delivery
  • Traumatic pubic symphysis separation

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to O71.6: its own notes plus those printed at O71 and Chapter 15. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From O71 Other obstetric trauma applies to 14 codes
  • obstetric damage from instruments

Applicable To

Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.

  • Obstetric avulsion of inner symphyseal cartilage
  • Obstetric damage to coccyx
  • Obstetric traumatic separation of symphysis (pubis)

Excludes1

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

From Chapter 15 (O00-O9A) Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium applies to 2,481 codes
  • supervision of normal pregnancy (Z34.-)

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 15 (O00-O9A) Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium applies to 2,481 codes
  • mental and behavioral disorders associated with the puerperium (F53.-)
  • obstetrical tetanus (A34)
  • postpartum necrosis of pituitary gland (E23.0)
  • puerperal osteomalacia (M83.0)

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From Chapter 15 (O00-O9A) Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium applies to 2,481 codes
  • code, if applicable, from category Z3A, Weeks of gestation, to identify the specific week of the pregnancy, if known.

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 15 (O00-O9A) Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium applies to 2,481 codes
  • CODES FROM THIS CHAPTER ARE FOR USE ONLY ON MATERNAL RECORDS, NEVER ON NEWBORN RECORDS
  • Codes from this chapter are for use for conditions related to or aggravated by the pregnancy, childbirth, or by the puerperium (maternal causes or obstetric causes)
  • Trimesters are counted from the first day of the last menstrual period. They are defined as follows:
  • 1st trimester- less than 14 weeks 0 days
  • 2nd trimester- 14 weeks 0 days to less than 28 weeks 0 days
  • 3rd trimester- 28 weeks 0 days until delivery

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name O71.6, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 4

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming O71.6: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • O26.7 Subluxation of symphysis (pubis) in pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
    traumatic separation of symphysis (pubis) during childbirth (O71.6)
  • S33 Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of lumbar spine and pelvis
    obstetric damage to pelvic joints and ligaments (O71.6)
  • S37 Injury of urinary and pelvic organs
    obstetric trauma to pelvic organs (O71.-) names O71.-, which includes this code
  • S37.6 Injury of uterus
    injury to uterus during delivery (O71.-) names O71.-, which includes this code

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming O71.6: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
    obstetric trauma (O70-O71) names O70-O71, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

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

Childbirth Problems

Childbirth is the process of giving birth to a baby. It includes labor and delivery. Usually everything goes well, but problems can happen. They may cause a risk to the mother, baby, or both. Some of the more common childbirth problems include:

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert O71.6 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
665.61 Damage to pelvic jt-del
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
665.64 Damage pelvic jt-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 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About O71.6Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for obstetric damage to pelvic joints and ligaments?

The ICD-10-CM code for obstetric damage to pelvic joints and ligaments is O71.6 (sometimes written as O716). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is O71.6 (Other obstetric trauma) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report obstetric damage to pelvic joints and ligaments on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does O71.6 group to?

When obstetric damage to pelvic joints and ligaments is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 769, 776, with relative weights from 0.6718 to 1.6666 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is O71.6 a CC or MCC?

CMS lists O71.6 as a CC (complication or comorbidity) for FY 2027. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it moves the inpatient stay to a higher-weighted DRG within its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 250 closely related codes in its exclusion list.

Who can O71.6 be reported for?

The Medicare Code Editor checks obstetric damage to pelvic joints and ligaments against patient demographics: this code is intended for maternity cases (age 9 through 64). Claims outside these limits are flagged as inconsistent.