2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S09.91XAUnspecified injury of ear, initial encounter
S09.91XA is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified injury of ear, 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 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 154 through 156, 963 through 965. Coders also document this condition as hematotympanum. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other unspecified injury.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Hematotympanum
- Injury of ear
- Injury of external auditory canal
- Injury of external ear
- Injury of head with otorrhagia
- Injury of left ear
- Injury of right ear
- Traumatic hemotympanum
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 2027, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to S09.91XA: its own notes plus those printed at S09, block S00-S09, and Chapter 19. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.
Includes
Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.
- injuries of ear
- injuries of eye
- injuries of face [any part]
- injuries of gum
- injuries of jaw
- injuries of oral cavity
- injuries of palate
- injuries of periocular area
- injuries of scalp
- injuries of temporomandibular joint area
- injuries of tongue
- injuries of tooth
Excludes2
Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.
- burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
- effects of foreign body in ear (T16)
- effects of foreign body in larynx (T17.3)
- effects of foreign body in mouth NOS (T18.0)
- effects of foreign body in nose (T17.0-T17.1)
- effects of foreign body in pharynx (T17.2)
- effects of foreign body on external eye (T15.-)
- frostbite (T33-T34)
- insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
Use Additional Code
Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Code Also
A second code may be needed to fully describe the condition; the note gives no sequencing direction.
- for any associated infection
Notes
General instructions on how these codes are used.
- Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code
- The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.
7th Character
Every code in the category takes a 7th character from the listed values, with the placeholder X filling any empty positions before it.
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S09
- Ainitial encounter this code
- Dsubsequent encounter
- Ssequela
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.
Referenced in Other NotesGuidance
Instructional notes printed at other codes that name S09.91XA, its category, or a range that includes it.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Ear Disorders
An ear disorder is any condition that changes or harms the shape or structure of your ear. This can include abnormal ear shapes you're born with, injuries that change your ear's shape, and a growth on or in the ear.
The full article covers:
- What is an ear disorder?
- What causes ear disorders?
- What are the symptoms of ear disorders?
- How are ear disorders diagnosed?
- How are ear disorders treated?
- Can ear disorders be prevented?
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert S09.91XA to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S09.91XAOverview
What is the ICD-10 code for unspecified injury of ear, initial encounter?
The ICD-10-CM code for unspecified injury of ear, initial encounter is S09.91XA (sometimes written as S0991XA). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is S09.91XA (Unspecified injury of ear) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified injury of ear, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What does the 7th character A in S09.91XA mean?
The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for unspecified injury of ear, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.
What MS-DRG does S09.91XA group to?
When unspecified injury of ear, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 156, 964, 965, 155, 154, 963, with relative weights from 0.6656 to 2.6361 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S09.91XA?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unspecified injury of ear, initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 872.8 (open wound of ear NOS). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
