2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S61.231APuncture wound without foreign body of left index finger without damage to nail, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S60-S69›S61

ICD-10-CM S61.231A
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

S61.231A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for puncture wound without foreign body of left index finger 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 puncture wound of finger of left hand. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Open wounds to limbs, initial encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S61.231A
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Puncture wound without foreign body of left index finger without damage to nail, initial encounter
Short Description
Pnctr w/o fb of l idx fngr w/o damage to nail, init
Parent Code
S61.231
Puncture wound without foreign body of left index finger without damage to nail

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS60-S69Injuries to the wrist, hand and fingers
CategoryS61Open wound of wrist, hand and fingers
This CodeS61.231APuncture wound without foreign body of left index finger without damage to nail, initial encounter

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Puncture wound of finger of left hand
  • Puncture wound of index finger
  • Puncture wound of index finger of left hand

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.

CCSR INJ012
Open wounds to limbs, initial 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 S61.231A to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
883.0 Open wound of finger
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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About S61.231AOverview

Is S61.231A a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report puncture wound without foreign body of left index finger 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 S61.231A 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 left index finger without damage to nail, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.

What MS-DRG does S61.231A group to?

When puncture wound without foreign body of left index finger 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 S61.231A?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, puncture wound without foreign body of left index finger 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.