2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S61.542APuncture wound with foreign body of left wrist, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S60-S69›S61

ICD-10-CM S61.542A
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S61.542A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for puncture wound with foreign body of left wrist, 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 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 913 through 914, 963 through 965. Coders also document this condition as puncture wound of left wrist. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Open wounds to limbs, initial encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S61.542A
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Puncture wound with foreign body of left wrist, initial encounter
Short Description
Puncture wound with foreign body of left wrist, init encntr
Parent Code
S61.542
Puncture wound with foreign body of left wrist

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 CodeS61.542APuncture wound with foreign body of left wrist, initial encounter

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Puncture wound of left wrist
  • Puncture wound of left wrist region with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of wrist
  • Puncture wound of wrist with 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 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 S61.542A: its own notes plus those printed at S61, block S60-S69, 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 S61 Open wound of wrist, hand and fingers applies to 576 codes
  • open fracture of wrist, hand and finger (S62.- with 7th character B)
  • traumatic amputation of wrist and hand (S68.-)

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 Block S60-S69 Injuries to the wrist, hand and fingers applies to 5,118 codes
  • burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
  • frostbite (T33-T34)
  • 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 S61 Open wound of wrist, hand and fingers applies to 576 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 S61 Open wound of wrist, hand and fingers applies to 576 codes
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S61
Values for category S61 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter this code
  • Dsubsequent encounter
  • 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 S61.542A, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming S61.542A: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • S51 Open wound of elbow and forearm
    open wound of wrist and hand (S61.-) names S61.-, which includes this code

Use Additional Code 1

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and S61.542A is one of the codes named.

  • S67 Crushing injury of wrist, hand and fingers
    open wound of wrist and hand (S61.-) names S61.-, which includes this code

Code Also 3

These codes say S61.542A may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • S64 Injury of nerves at wrist and hand level
    any associated open wound (S61.-) names S61.-, which includes this code
  • S65 Injury of blood vessels at wrist and hand level
    any associated open wound (S61.-) names S61.-, which includes this code
  • S66 Injury of muscle, fascia and tendon at wrist and hand level
    any associated open wound (S61.-) names S61.-, which includes this code

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

Foreign Bodies

If you've ever gotten a splinter or had sand in your eye, you've had experience with a foreign body. A foreign body is something that is stuck inside you but isn't supposed to be there. You may inhale or swallow a foreign body, or you may get one from an injury to almost any part of your body.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert S61.542A to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
881.12 Open wound wrist-complic
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 S61.542AOverview

What is the ICD-10 code for puncture wound with foreign body of left wrist, initial encounter?

The ICD-10-CM code for puncture wound with foreign body of left wrist, initial encounter is S61.542A (sometimes written as S61542A). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is S61.542A (Puncture wound with foreign body of left wrist) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report puncture wound with foreign body of left wrist, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What does the 7th character A in S61.542A mean?

The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for puncture wound with foreign body of left wrist, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.

What MS-DRG does S61.542A group to?

When puncture wound with foreign body of left wrist, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 964, 965, 914, 913, 963, with relative weights from 0.9281 to 2.6361 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can S61.542A be reported with a code from S62?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at S61, which applies to S61.542A, lists "open fracture of wrist, hand and finger (S62.- with 7th character B)". 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).