2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Q17.9Congenital malformation of ear, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Codes›Q00-Q99›Q10-Q18›Q17

ICD-10-CM Q17.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Q17.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for congenital malformation of ear, unspecified. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 154 through 156. The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face, neck.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Q17.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Congenital malformation of ear, unspecified
Short Description
Congenital malformation of ear, unspecified
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Q17
Other congenital malformations of ear

Code Classification

ChapterQ00-Q99Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
SectionQ10-Q18Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face and neck
CategoryQ17Other congenital malformations of ear
This CodeQ17.9Congenital malformation of ear, unspecified

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Q17.9 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Anomaly of fetal ear
  • Bilateral congenital malformation of ears
  • Bilateral congenital malformation of external ears
  • BRESEK syndrome
  • CODAS syndrome
  • Coloboma, congenital heart disease, ichthyosiform dermatosis, intellectual disability ear anomaly syndrome
  • Conductive deafness, malformed external ear syndrome
  • Congenital abnormality of external ear
  • Congenital absence of breast
  • Congenital absence of nipple
  • Congenital anomaly of left ear
  • Congenital anomaly of lobe of ear
  • Congenital anomaly of right ear
  • Congenital conductive hearing loss
  • Congenital deformity of pinna
  • Congenital malformation of ear
  • Congenital malformation of eye, ear and neck
  • Congenital malformation of left external ear
  • Congenital malformation of right external ear
  • Ear, face and neck congenital anomalies
  • EVEN-plus syndrome
  • Flat face, microstomia, ear anomaly syndrome
  • Frontonasal dysplasia sequence
  • Microstomia
  • Oculoauricular syndrome Schorderet type
  • Oculoauriculofrontonasal syndrome
  • Oro-facial digital syndrome type 10
  • Oro-facial digital syndrome type 9
  • Otofaciocervical syndrome
  • Oto-onycho-peroneal syndrome
  • PHAVER syndrome
  • Scalp, ear, nipple syndrome
  • Sellars Beighton syndrome
  • Syndactyly, polydactyly, ear lobe syndrome
  • Upper limb defect with eye and ear abnormalities syndrome

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Congenital anomaly of ear NOS

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.

    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • ear (external)
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • tragus
    • Deformity
      • ear (acquired)
        • congenital (external)
    • Deformity
      • pinna, acquired
        • congenital
    • Malformation(congenital)
      • ear
    • Malformation(congenital)
      • ear
        • external

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR MAL005
Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face, neck
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Microstomia

    a congenital defect in which the mouth is unusually small. (dorland, 27th ed)

  • Codas Syndrome

    a rare syndrome caused by mutations in the lonp1 gene. it is characterized by developmental delay, cerebral, ocular, dental, auricular, and skeletal abnormalities.

Patient EducationClinical

Birth Defects

A birth defect is a problem that happens while a baby is developing in the mother's body. Most birth defects happen during the first 3 months of pregnancy. One out of every 33 babies in the United States is born with a birth defect.

The full article covers:

  • What are birth defects?
  • What causes birth defects?
  • Who is at risk of having a baby with birth defects?
  • How are birth defects diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for birth defects?
  • Can birth defects be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Q17.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
744.3 Ear anomaly NOS
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

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 Q17.9Overview

Is Q17.9 (Other congenital malformations of ear) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does Q17.9 group to?

When congenital malformation of ear, unspecified is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 154, 155, 156, with relative weights from 0.6911 to 1.5635 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is Q17.9 exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for congenital malformation of ear, unspecified on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Q17.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, congenital malformation of ear, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 744.3 (ear anomaly NOS). The mapping is a direct match.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.