2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S61.039APuncture wound without foreign body of unspecified thumb without damage to nail, initial encounter
S61.039A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified thumb without damage to nail, initial encounter. The 7th character A marks it as an initial encounter code, used while the patient is receiving active treatment. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 604 through 605, 963 through 965. Coders also document this condition as metal nail wound. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Open wounds to limbs, initial encounter.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Metal nail wound
- Metal nail wound of thumb
- Nail wound of hand
- Needle stick injury of hand
- Needle stick injury of thumb
- Puncture wound of thumb
- Puncture wound of thumb without foreign body
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Open wound of wrist, hand and fingers (S61). 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.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
Finger Injuries and Disorders
You use your fingers and thumbs to do everything from grasping objects to playing musical instruments to typing. When there is something wrong with them, it can make life difficult. Common problems include:
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert S61.039A to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S61.039AOverview
Is S61.039A a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified thumb without damage to nail, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character A in S61.039A mean?
The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified thumb without damage to nail, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.
What MS-DRG does S61.039A group to?
When puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified thumb without damage to nail, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 604, 605, 963, 964, 965, with relative weights from 0.9160 to 2.7338 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S61.039A?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified thumb without damage to nail, initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 883.0 (open wound of finger). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
Footnotes
[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.
