2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S09.22XATraumatic rupture of left ear drum, initial encounter
S09.22XA is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for traumatic rupture of left ear drum, 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. Coders also document this condition as traumatic injury of left middle ear. 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.
- Traumatic injury of left middle ear
- Traumatic perforation of left 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 S09.22XA to ICD-9-CMHistory
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S09.22XAOverview
Is S09.22XA (Traumatic rupture of left ear drum) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report traumatic rupture of left ear drum, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character A in S09.22XA mean?
The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for traumatic rupture of left ear drum, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.
What MS-DRG does S09.22XA group to?
When traumatic rupture of left ear drum, 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 S09.22XA?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, traumatic rupture of left ear drum, initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 872.61 (open wound of ear drum) and 872.71 (open wnd ear drum-compl). 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.
