2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S09.21XSTraumatic rupture of right ear drum, sequela
S09.21XS is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for traumatic rupture of right ear drum, sequela. The 7th character S marks it as a sequela code, which reports a problem that remains after the original condition has resolved. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 604 through 605. The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as traumatic injury of right middle ear. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury, sequela.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
S09.21XS 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.
- Traumatic injury of right middle ear
- Traumatic perforation of right tympanic membrane
- Traumatic tympanic membrane perforation
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Other and unspecified injuries of head (S09). 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
Ear Disorders
Your ear has three main parts: outer, middle and inner. You use all of them in hearing. Sound waves come in through your outer ear. They reach your middle ear, where they make your eardrum vibrate. The vibrations are transmitted through three tiny bones, called ossicles, in your middle ear.
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Convert S09.21XS to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S09.21XSOverview
Is S09.21XS (Traumatic rupture of right ear drum) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report traumatic rupture of right ear drum, sequela on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character S in S09.21XS mean?
The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the traumatic rupture of right ear drum itself has resolved, not the original event.
What MS-DRG does S09.21XS group to?
When traumatic rupture of right ear drum, sequela is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 604, 605, with relative weights from 0.9160 to 1.4721 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is S09.21XS 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 traumatic rupture of right ear drum, sequela on inpatient claims.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S09.21XS?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, traumatic rupture of right ear drum, sequela converts to ICD-9-CM 906.0 (lt eff opn wnd head/trnk). 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.
