2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S40.259DSuperficial foreign body of unspecified shoulder, subsequent encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S40-S49›S40

ICD-10-CM S40.259D
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

S40.259D is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for superficial foreign body of unspecified shoulder, subsequent encounter. The 7th character D marks it as a subsequent encounter code, used during routine care in the healing or recovery phase. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 949 through 950. The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Superficial injury; contusion, subsequent encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S40.259D
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Superficial foreign body of unspecified shoulder, subsequent encounter
Short Description
Superficial foreign body of unsp shoulder, subs encntr
Parent Code
S40.259
Superficial foreign body of unspecified shoulder

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS40-S49Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm
CategoryS40Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm
This CodeS40.259DSuperficial foreign body of unspecified shoulder, subsequent encounter

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

S40.259D is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Foreign body in skin of axilla
  • Foreign body in skin of back
  • Foreign body in skin of back with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of scapular region
  • Foreign body in skin of scapular region with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of shoulder
  • Foreign body in skin of shoulder with infection
  • Retained foreign body in shoulder region
  • Splinter in back
  • Splinter in back with infection
  • Splinter in scapular region
  • Splinter in scapular region with infection
  • Splinter in shoulder
  • Splinter in shoulder with infection
  • Superficial injury of scapular region with infection

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm (S40). 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 INJ054
Superficial injury; contusion, subsequent encounter
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Foreign Bodies

If you've ever gotten a splinter or had sand in your eye, you've had experience with a foreign body. A foreign body is something that is stuck inside you but isn't supposed to be there. You may inhale or swallow a foreign body, or you may get one from an injury to almost any part of your body.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert S40.259D to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V58.89 Other specfied aftercare
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 S40.259DOverview

Is S40.259D (Superficial foreign body of unspecified shoulder) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report superficial foreign body of unspecified shoulder, subsequent encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What does the 7th character D in S40.259D mean?

The final character D marks a subsequent encounter: use it for routine care while the superficial foreign body of unspecified shoulder is healing, after active treatment has ended.

What MS-DRG does S40.259D group to?

When superficial foreign body of unspecified shoulder, subsequent encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 949, 950, with relative weights from 0.6277 to 1.1897 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is S40.259D 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 superficial foreign body of unspecified shoulder, subsequent encounter on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S40.259D?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, superficial foreign body of unspecified shoulder, subsequent encounter converts to ICD-9-CM V58.89 (other specfied aftercare). 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.