2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S55Injury of blood vessels at forearm level
S55 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for injury of blood vessels at forearm level, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as S55.001A, S55.001D, S55.001S, and S55.002A.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Specific Coding for Injury of blood vessels at forearm levelOverview
Non-specific codes like S55 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:
S55.0 for Injury of ulnar artery at forearm level
S55.00 for Unspecified injury of ulnar artery at forearm level
S55.01 for Laceration of ulnar artery at forearm level
S55.09 for Other specified injury of ulnar artery at forearm level
S55.1 for Injury of radial artery at forearm level
S55.10 for Unspecified injury of radial artery at forearm level
S55.11 for Laceration of radial artery at forearm level
S55.19 for Other specified injury of radial artery at forearm level
S55.2 for Injury of vein at forearm level
S55.20 for Unspecified injury of vein at forearm level
S55.21 for Laceration of vein at forearm level
S55.29 for Other specified injury of vein at forearm level
S55.8 for Injury of other blood vessels at forearm level
S55.80 for Unspecified injury of other blood vessels at forearm level
S55.81 for Laceration of other blood vessels at forearm level
S55.89 for Other specified injury of other blood vessels at forearm level
S55.9 for Injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level
S55.90 for Unspecified injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level
S55.91 for Laceration of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level
S55.99 for Other specified injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Injury of blood vessels at forearm level (S55). 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.
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Code Also
- any associated open wound S51
Type 2 Excludes
7th Character Note
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S55
7th Character
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
A "code also" note instructs that two codes may be required to fully describe a condition, but this note does not provide sequencing direction.
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
Patient EducationClinical
Arm Injuries and Disorders
Of the 206 bones in your body, three of them are in your arm: the humerus, radius, and ulna. Your arms are also made up of muscles, joints, tendons, and other connective tissue. Injuries to any of these parts of the arm can occur during sports, a fall, or an accident.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S55Overview
Is S55 (Injury of blood vessels at forearm level) a billable code?
No. This is a category header that groups the codes for injury of blood vessels at forearm level, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for injury of blood vessels at forearm level need a more specific code from this category, such as S55.001A, S55.001D, and S55.001S.
