2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S36.438ALaceration of other part of small intestine, initial encounter
ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S30-S39›S36
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- CC — Complication or Comorbidity
- 7th Character A — Initial Encounter
- Not Chronic
S36.438A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for laceration of other part of small intestine, 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 393 through 395, 963 through 965. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) and moves an inpatient stay to a higher severity level within its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 169 closely related codes. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Internal organ injury, initial encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Laceration of ileum
- Laceration of jejunum
- Laceration of small intestine
- Perforation of ileum
- Perforation of jejunum
- Serosal tear of ileum
- Serosal tear of jejunum
- Transection of ileum
- Transection of jejunum
- Transection of small intestine
- Traumatic perforation of ileum
- Traumatic perforation of jejunum
- Traumatic perforation of small intestine
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Injury of intra-abdominal organs (S36). 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 S36.438A: its own notes plus those printed at S36, block S30-S39, 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 to the abdominal wall
- injuries to the anus
- injuries to the buttock
- injuries to the external genitalia
- injuries to the flank
- injuries to the groin
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.
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.
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 S36
- 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 S36.438A, its category, or a range that includes it.
Use Additional Code 1
These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and S36.438A is one of the codes named.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Small Intestine Disorders
Your small intestine is the longest part of your digestive system - about twenty feet long! It connects your stomach to your large intestine (or colon) and folds many times to fit inside your abdomen. Your small intestine does most of the digesting of the foods you eat. It has three areas called the duodenum, the ileum, and the jejunum.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert S36.438A to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S36.438AOverview
What is the ICD-10 code for laceration of other part of small intestine, initial encounter?
The ICD-10-CM code for laceration of other part of small intestine, initial encounter is S36.438A (sometimes written as S36438A). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is S36.438A (Laceration of other part of small intestine) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report laceration of other part of small intestine, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What does the 7th character A in S36.438A mean?
The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for laceration of other part of small intestine, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.
What MS-DRG does S36.438A group to?
When laceration of other part of small intestine, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 394, 964, 965, 395, 393, 963, with relative weights from 0.6379 to 2.6361 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is S36.438A a CC or MCC?
CMS lists S36.438A as a CC (complication or comorbidity) for FY 2027. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it moves the inpatient stay to a higher-weighted DRG within its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 169 closely related codes in its exclusion list.
