2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S41Open wound of shoulder and upper arm

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S40-S49›S41

ICD-10-CM S41
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S41 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for open wound of shoulder and upper arm, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as S41.001A, S41.001D, S41.001S, and S41.002A.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S41
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Open wound of shoulder and upper arm
Short Description
Open wound of shoulder and upper arm
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
S40-S49
Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS40-S49Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm
CategoryS41Open wound of shoulder and upper arm
This CodeS41Open wound of shoulder and upper arm

Specific Coding for Open wound of shoulder and upper armOverview

Non-specific codes like S41 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • S41.0 for Open wound of shoulder

  • S41.00 for Unspecified open wound of shoulder

  • S41.01 for Laceration without foreign body of shoulder

  • S41.02 for Laceration with foreign body of shoulder

  • S41.03 for Puncture wound without foreign body of shoulder

  • S41.04 for Puncture wound with foreign body of shoulder

  • S41.05 for Open bite of shoulder

  • S41.1 for Open wound of upper arm

  • S41.10 for Unspecified open wound of upper arm

  • S41.11 for Laceration without foreign body of upper arm

  • S41.12 for Laceration with foreign body of upper arm

  • S41.13 for Puncture wound without foreign body of upper arm

  • S41.14 for Puncture wound with foreign body of upper arm

  • S41.15 for Open bite of upper arm

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Open wound of shoulder and upper arm (S41). 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 S41: its own notes plus those printed at block S40-S49 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.

From Block S40-S49 Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm applies to 2,730 codes
  • injuries of axilla
  • injuries of scapular region

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • traumatic amputation of shoulder and upper arm (S48.-)

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.

On S41 itself
  • open fracture of shoulder and upper arm (S42.- with 7th character B or C)
From Block S40-S49 Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm applies to 2,730 codes
From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes
  • 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.

  • any associated wound infection

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes
  • 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 S41
Values for category S41 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter
  • 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 S41, its category, or a range that includes it.

Code Also 3

These codes say S41 may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • S44 Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level
    any associated open wound (S41.-)
  • S45 Injury of blood vessels at shoulder and upper arm level
    any associated open wound (S41.-)
  • S46 Injury of muscle, fascia and tendon at shoulder and upper arm level
    any associated open wound (S41.-)

Patient EducationClinical

Wounds and Injuries

An injury is damage to your body. It is a general term that refers to harm caused by accidents, falls, hits, weapons, and more. In the U.S., millions of people injure themselves every year. These injuries range from minor to life-threatening.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About S41Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for open wound of shoulder and upper arm?

S41 is the ICD-10-CM category for open wound of shoulder and upper arm, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is S41 (Open wound of shoulder and upper arm) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for open wound of shoulder and upper arm, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for open wound of shoulder and upper arm need a more specific code from this category, such as S41.001A, S41.001D, and S41.001S.

Can S41 be reported with a code from S48?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on S41 lists "traumatic amputation of shoulder and upper arm (S48.-)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).