2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S01.21XALaceration without foreign body of nose, initial encounter
S01.21XA is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for laceration without foreign body of nose, initial encounter. The 7th character A marks it as an initial encounter code, used while the patient is receiving active treatment. 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, 963 through 965. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Open wounds of head and neck, initial encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Complex laceration of nose
- Contaminated complex laceration of nose
- Cut of nose
- Injury of nasal cavity
- Laceration of nasal septum
- Laceration of nasal sinus
- Laceration of nose
- Laceration of structure of nasal cavity
- Open wound of nasal septum
- Simple laceration of nose
- Stab wound of face
- Stab wound of head
- Stab wound of nose
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Open wound of head (S01). Use the following options for the applicable episode of care:
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2026, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Nose Injuries and Disorders
Your nose is important to your health. It filters the air you breathe, removing dust, germs, and irritants. It warms and moistens the air to keep your lungs and tubes that lead to them from drying out. Your nose also contains the nerve cells that help your sense of smell.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert S01.21XA to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S01.21XAOverview
Is S01.21XA (Laceration without foreign body of nose) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report laceration without foreign body of nose, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character A in S01.21XA mean?
The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for laceration without foreign body of nose, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.
What MS-DRG does S01.21XA group to?
When laceration without foreign body of nose, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 154, 155, 156, 963, 964, 965, with relative weights from 0.6911 to 2.7338 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S01.21XA?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, laceration without foreign body of nose, initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 873.20 (open wound of nose NOS). 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.
