2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S55.9

Injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level

ICD-10-CM Code:
S55.9
ICD-10 Code for:
Injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level
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)
      • Injury of blood vessels at forearm level
        (S55)

S55.9 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level. 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 S55.9 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 Injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level

Non-specific codes like S55.9 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 injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level:

  • S55.90 for Unspecified injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S55.901 for Unspecified injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level, right arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.901A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.901D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.901S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S55.902 for Unspecified injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level, left arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.902A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.902D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.902S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S55.909 for Unspecified injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level, unspecified arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.909A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.909D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.909S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S55.91 for Laceration of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S55.911 for Laceration of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level, right arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.911A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.911D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.911S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S55.912 for Laceration of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level, left arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.912A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.912D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.912S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S55.919 for Laceration of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level, unspecified arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.919A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.919D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.919S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S55.99 for Other specified injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S55.991 for Other specified injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level, right arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.991A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.991D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.991S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S55.992 for Other specified injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level, left arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.992A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.992D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.992S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S55.999 for Other specified injury of unspecified blood vessel at forearm level, unspecified arm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.999A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.999D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S55.999S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

Coding Guidelines

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 aplicable episode of care:

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

Patient Education


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.

Types of arm injuries include :

  • Tendinitis and bursitis
  • Sprains
  • Dislocations
  • Fractures (broken bones)
  • Nerve problems
  • Osteoarthritis

You may also have problems or injure specific parts of your arm, such as your hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder.


[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.