2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S11.039AUnspecified open wound of vocal cord, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S10-S19›S11

ICD-10-CM S11.039A
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

S11.039A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified open wound of vocal cord, 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 11 through 13, 154 through 156, 963 through 965. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a major complication or comorbidity (MCC) and places an inpatient stay in the highest severity level of its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 51 closely related codes. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Open wounds of head and neck, initial encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S11.039A
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Unspecified open wound of vocal cord, initial encounter
Short Description
Unspecified open wound of vocal cord, initial encounter
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
S11.039
Unspecified open wound of vocal cord

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS10-S19Injuries to the neck
CategoryS11Open wound of neck
This CodeS11.039AUnspecified open wound of vocal cord, initial encounter

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Open wound of neck (S11). 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.

CCSR INJ011
Open wounds of head and neck, initial encounter
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Throat Disorders

Your throat is a tube that carries food to your esophagus and air to your windpipe and larynx. The technical name for your throat is the pharynx.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert S11.039A to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
874.01 Open wound of larynx
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

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 S11.039AOverview

What is the ICD-10 code for unspecified open wound of vocal cord, initial encounter?

The ICD-10-CM code for unspecified open wound of vocal cord, initial encounter is S11.039A (sometimes written as S11039A). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Is S11.039A (Unspecified open wound of vocal cord) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified open wound of vocal cord, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What does the 7th character A in S11.039A mean?

The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for unspecified open wound of vocal cord, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.

What MS-DRG does S11.039A group to?

When unspecified open wound of vocal cord, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 11, 12, 13, 154, 155, 156, 963, 964, 965, with relative weights from 0.6911 to 5.4541 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is S11.039A a CC or MCC?

CMS lists S11.039A as an MCC (major complication or comorbidity) for FY 2026. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it places the inpatient stay in the highest-weighted DRG of its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 51 closely related codes in its exclusion list.