2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code P12Birth injury to scalp

ICD-10-CM Codes›P00–P96›P10-P15›P12

ICD-10-CM P12
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

P12 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for birth injury to scalp, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as P12.0, P12.1, P12.2, and P12.3.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
P12
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Birth injury to scalp
Short Description
Birth injury to scalp
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
P10-P15
Birth trauma

Code Classification

ChapterP00–P96Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period
SectionP10-P15Birth trauma
CategoryP12Birth injury to scalp
This CodeP12Birth injury to scalp

Specific Coding for Birth injury to scalpOverview

Non-specific codes like P12 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use P12.0 for Cephalhematoma due to birth injury

  • Use P12.1 for Chignon (from vacuum extraction) due to birth injury

  • Use P12.2 for Epicranial subaponeurotic hemorrhage due to birth injury

  • Use P12.3 for Bruising of scalp due to birth injury

  • Use P12.4 for Injury of scalp of newborn due to monitoring equipment

  • P12.8 for Other birth injuries to scalp

  • Use P12.81 for Caput succedaneum

  • Use P12.89 for Other birth injuries to scalp

  • Use P12.9 for Birth injury to scalp, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to P12: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 16. 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 Chapter 16 (P00-P96) Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period applies to 463 codes
  • conditions that have their origin in the fetal or perinatal period (before birth through the first 28 days after birth) even if morbidity occurs later

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 16 (P00-P96) Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period applies to 463 codes
  • 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)
  • tetanus neonatorum (A33)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 16 (P00-P96) Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period applies to 463 codes
  • Codes from this chapter are for use on newborn records only, never on maternal records

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name P12, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming P12: 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
    birth trauma (P10-P15) names P10-P15, which includes this code

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.

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 P12Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for birth injury to scalp?

P12 is the ICD-10-CM category for birth injury to scalp, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is P12 (Birth injury to scalp) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for birth injury to scalp, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for birth injury to scalp need a more specific code from this category, such as P12.0, P12.1, and P12.2.