2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S50.9

Unspecified superficial injury of elbow and forearm

ICD-10-CM Code:
S50.9
ICD-10 Code for:
Unspecified superficial injury of elbow and forearm
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
    (S00–T88)
    • Injuries to the elbow and forearm
      (S50-S59)
      • Superficial injury of elbow and forearm
        (S50)

S50.9 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of unspecified superficial injury of elbow and forearm. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like S50.9 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Specific Coding Applicable to Unspecified superficial injury of elbow and forearm

Non-specific codes like S50.9 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for unspecified superficial injury of elbow and forearm:

  • S50.90 for Unspecified superficial injury of elbow - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S50.901 for Unspecified superficial injury of right elbow - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.901A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.901D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.901S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S50.902 for Unspecified superficial injury of left elbow - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.902A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.902D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.902S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S50.909 for Unspecified superficial injury of unspecified elbow - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.909A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.909D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.909S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S50.91 for Unspecified superficial injury of forearm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S50.911 for Unspecified superficial injury of right forearm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.911A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.911D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.911S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S50.912 for Unspecified superficial injury of left forearm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.912A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.912D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.912S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S50.919 for Unspecified superficial injury of unspecified forearm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.919A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.919D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S50.919S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

Coding Guidelines

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Superficial injury of elbow and forearm (S50). Use the following options for the aplicable episode of care:

  • A - initial encounter
  • D - subsequent encounter
  • S - sequela

Patient Education


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. Injuries can happen at work or play, indoors or outdoors, driving a car, or walking across the street.

Wounds are injuries that break the skin or other body tissues. They include cuts, scrapes, scratches, and punctured skin. They often happen because of an accident, but surgery, sutures, and stitches also cause wounds. Minor wounds usually aren't serious, but it is important to clean them. Serious and infected wounds may require first aid followed by a visit to your doctor. You should also seek attention if the wound is deep, you cannot close it yourself, you cannot stop the bleeding or get the dirt out, or it does not heal.

Other common types of injuries include:

  • Animal bites
  • Bruises
  • Burns
  • Dislocations
  • Electrical injuries
  • Fractures (broken bones)
  • Sprains and strains

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.