2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code P12.81Caput succedaneum

ICD-10-CM Codes›P00–P96›P10-P15›P12

ICD-10-CM P12.81
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

P12.81 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for caput succedaneum. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Birth trauma.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
P12.81
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Caput succedaneum
Short Description
Caput succedaneum
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
P12.8
Other birth injuries to scalp

Code Classification

ChapterP00–P96Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period
SectionP10-P15Birth trauma
CategoryP12Birth injury to scalp
This CodeP12.81Caput succedaneum

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Caput succedaneum

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.

    • Caput
      • succedaneum
    • Injury
      • scalp
        • newborn (birth injury)
          • specified NEC
            • caput succedaneum

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR PNL008
Birth trauma
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Caput Succedaneum

    a diffuse swelling of the scalp in a newborn, usually caused by the trauma of the scalp pushing through a narrowed cervix during birth. the swelling may extend across the midline of the scalp and may exhibit discoloration or bruising.

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 P12.81 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
767.19 Injuries to scalp NEC
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 P12.81Overview

Is P12.81 (Other birth injuries to scalp) a billable code?

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

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of P12.81?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, caput succedaneum converts to ICD-9-CM 767.19 (injuries to scalp NEC). 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.