2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S36.538SLaceration of other part of colon, sequela
S36.538S is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for laceration of other part of colon, 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 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 393 through 395. The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as injury of cecum. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury, sequela.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
S36.538S is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review the other POA exempt codes in Injuries to the abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine, pelvis and external genitals (S30-S39).
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Injury of cecum
- Laceration of appendix
- Laceration of cecum
- Serosal tear of appendix
- Serosal tear of cecum
- Transection of appendix
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 S36.538S: its own notes plus those printed at S36.5, 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
- Dsubsequent encounter
- Ssequela this code
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.
Referenced in Other NotesGuidance
Instructional notes printed at other codes that name S36.538S, its category, or a range that includes it.
Use Additional Code 1
These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and S36.538S is one of the codes named.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Colonic Diseases
Your colon, also known as the large intestine, is part of your digestive system. It's a long, hollow tube at the end of your digestive tract where your body makes and stores stool. Many disorders affect the colon's ability to work properly. Some of these include:
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert S36.538S to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S36.538SOverview
What is the ICD-10 code for laceration of other part of colon, sequela?
The ICD-10-CM code for laceration of other part of colon, sequela is S36.538S (sometimes written as S36538S). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is S36.538S (Laceration of other part of colon) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report laceration of other part of colon, sequela on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What does the 7th character S in S36.538S mean?
The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the laceration of other part of colon itself has resolved, not the original event.
What MS-DRG does S36.538S group to?
When laceration of other part of colon, sequela is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 394, 395, 393, with relative weights from 0.6379 to 1.5877 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is S36.538S 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 laceration of other part of colon, sequela on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Injuries to the abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine, pelvis and external genitals (S30-S39) range of the CMS exempt list.
