2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S51.039DPuncture wound without foreign body of unspecified elbow, subsequent encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S50-S59›S51

ICD-10-CM S51.039D
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S51.039D is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified elbow, 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 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 949 through 950. The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as nail wound of elbow. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Open wounds to limbs, subsequent encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S51.039D
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified elbow, subsequent encounter
Short Description
Puncture wound w/o foreign body of unsp elbow, subs encntr
Parent Code
S51.039
Puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified elbow

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS50-S59Injuries to the elbow and forearm
CategoryS51Open wound of elbow and forearm
This CodeS51.039DPuncture wound without foreign body of unspecified elbow, subsequent encounter

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

S51.039D is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review the other POA exempt codes in Injuries to the elbow and forearm (S50-S59).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Nail wound of elbow
  • Needle stick injury of elbow
  • Pellet wound of elbow
  • Puncture wound of elbow
  • Stab wound of elbow

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Open wound of elbow and forearm (S51). 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 S51.039D: its own notes plus those printed at S51, block S50-S59, and Chapter 19. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

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

From S51 Open wound of elbow and forearm applies to 108 codes
  • open fracture of elbow and forearm (S52.- with open fracture 7th character)
  • traumatic amputation of elbow and forearm (S58.-)

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.

From S51 Open wound of elbow and forearm applies to 108 codes
  • open wound of wrist and hand (S61.-)
From Block S50-S59 Injuries to the elbow and forearm applies to 4,362 codes
  • burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
  • frostbite (T33-T34)
  • injuries of wrist and hand (S60-S69)
  • insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
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.

From S51 Open wound of elbow and forearm applies to 108 codes
  • 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.

From S51 Open wound of elbow and forearm applies to 108 codes
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S51
Values for category S51 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter this code
  • 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 S51.039D, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming S51.039D: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • S51.8 Open wound of forearm
    open wound of elbow (S51.0-) names S51.0-, which includes this code

Code Also 3

These codes say S51.039D may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • S54 Injury of nerves at forearm level
    any associated open wound (S51.-) names S51.-, which includes this code
  • S55 Injury of blood vessels at forearm level
    any associated open wound (S51.-) names S51.-, which includes this code
  • S56 Injury of muscle, fascia and tendon at forearm level
    any associated open wound (S51.-) names S51.-, which includes this code

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR INJ049
Open wounds to limbs, subsequent encounter
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

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.

Convert S51.039D 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 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About S51.039DOverview

Is S51.039D (Puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified elbow) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified elbow, subsequent encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What does the 7th character D in S51.039D mean?

The final character D marks a subsequent encounter: use it for routine care while the puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified elbow is healing, after active treatment has ended.

What MS-DRG does S51.039D group to?

When puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified elbow, subsequent encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 950, 949, with relative weights from 0.7661 to 1.1231 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is S51.039D 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 puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified elbow, subsequent encounter on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Injuries to the elbow and forearm (S50-S59) range of the CMS exempt list.

Can S51.039D be reported with a code from S52?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at S51, which applies to S51.039D, lists "open fracture of elbow and forearm (S52.- with open fracture 7th character)". 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).