Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S81.809

Unspecified open wound, unspecified lower leg

ICD-10-CM Code:: S81.809
ICD-10 Code for:: Unspecified open wound, unspecified lower leg
Is Billable?: Not Valid for Submission
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Code Information
Specific Coding
Approximate Synonyms
Coding Guidelines
Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries
Patient Education
Other Codes Used Similar Conditions
Code History

Code Classification

Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
(S00–T88)
- Injuries to the knee and lower leg
  (S80-S89)
  - Open wound of knee and lower leg
    (S81)

S81.809 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of unspecified open wound, unspecified lower leg. 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 S81.809 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 Unspecified open wound, unspecified lower leg

Non-specific codes like S81.809 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 unspecified open wound, unspecified lower leg:

Use S81.809A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE
Use S81.809D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE
Use S81.809S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

Fracture of head of fibula
Fracture of neck of fibula
Fracture of shaft of fibula
Fracture of shaft of fibula
Fracture of shaft of tibia
Fracture of shaft of tibia
Fracture of shaft of tibia and fibula
Fracture of tibial spine
Fracture of upper end of lower leg
Glass in lower leg
Glass in lower leg
Glass in shin
Injury of anterior tibial artery
Injury of cutaneous sensory nerve of lower limb
Injury of popliteal artery
Injury of popliteal vein
Injury of tibial nerve
Multiple open wounds of lower leg
Open bimalleolar fracture
Open bimalleolar fracture
Open bimalleolar fracture
Open bimalleolar fracture
Open division, superior tibiofibular ligament
Open fracture ankle, bimalleolar, high fibular fracture
Open fracture ankle, bimalleolar, low fibular fracture
Open fracture ankle, lateral malleolus, high
Open fracture ankle, lateral malleolus, low
Open fracture ankle, trimalleolar, high fibular fracture
Open fracture ankle, trimalleolar, low fibular fracture
Open fracture distal tibia
Open fracture distal tibia, extra-articular
Open fracture distal tibia, intra-articular
Open fracture distal tibia, intra-articular
Open fracture fibula, head
Open fracture fibula, neck
Open fracture intercondylar spine of tibia
Open fracture of distal fibula
Open fracture of distal fibula
Open fracture of distal fibula
Open fracture of distal fibula
Open fracture of distal fibula
Open fracture of distal fibula
Open fracture of distal fibula
Open fracture of distal fibula
Open fracture of distal fibula
Open fracture of distal fibula
Open fracture of distal fibula
Open fracture of distal tibia and distal fibula
Open fracture of distal tibia and distal fibula
Open fracture of distal tibia and distal fibula
Open fracture of distal tibia and distal fibula
Open fracture of distal tibia and distal fibula
Open fracture of distal tibia and distal fibula
Open fracture of distal tibia and distal fibula
Open fracture of fibula
Open fracture of lateral malleolus
Open fracture of lateral malleolus
Open fracture of lateral malleolus
Open fracture of lateral malleolus
Open fracture of lateral malleolus
Open fracture of lateral malleolus
Open fracture of lateral malleolus
Open fracture of lower leg
Open fracture of medial malleolus
Open fracture of medial malleolus
Open fracture of medial malleolus
Open fracture of medial malleolus
Open fracture of medial malleolus
Open fracture of medial malleolus
Open fracture of shaft of fibula
Open fracture of shaft of fibula
Open fracture of shaft of tibia
Open fracture of shaft of tibia
Open fracture of tibia
Open fracture of tibia AND fibula
Open fracture of tibia AND fibula
Open fracture of tibia AND fibula
Open fracture of tibia AND fibula
Open fracture of tibia AND fibula
Open fracture of tibia AND fibula
Open fracture of tibia AND fibula
Open fracture of tibia AND fibula
Open fracture of tibia and fibula, shaft
Open fracture of tibial condyle
Open fracture of tibial condyle
Open fracture of tibial condyle
Open fracture of tibial condyle
Open fracture of tibial condyle
Open fracture of tibial plateau
Open fracture of tibial plateau
Open fracture of tibial plateau
Open fracture of tibial plateau
Open fracture of tibial plateau
Open fracture of tibial tuberosity
Open fracture of upper end of fibula
Open fracture of upper end of lower leg
Open fracture of upper end of tibia
Open fracture proximal tibia, bicondylar
Open fracture proximal tibia, lateral condyle
Open fracture proximal tibia, medial condyle
Open injury cutaneous sensory nerve of lower limb
Open injury posterior tibial nerve
Open injury, anterior tibial artery
Open injury, popliteal artery
Open injury, popliteal vein
Open pilon fracture
Open trimalleolar fracture
Open wound of lower leg
Open wound of lower leg with complication
Pilon fracture
Trimalleolar fracture

Coding Guidelines

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Open wound of knee and lower leg (S81). Use the following options for the aplicable episode of care:

A - initial encounter
D - subsequent encounter
S - sequela

Patient Education

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. Injuries can happen at work or play, indoors or outdoors, driving a car, or walking across the street.

Wounds are injuries that break the skin or other body tissues. They include cuts, scrapes, scratches, and punctured skin. They often happen because of an accident, but surgery, sutures, and stitches also cause wounds. Minor wounds usually aren't serious, but it is important to clean them. Serious and infected wounds may require first aid followed by a visit to your doctor. You should also seek attention if the wound is deep, you cannot close it yourself, you cannot stop the bleeding or get the dirt out, or it does not heal.

Other common types of injuries include:

Animal bites
Bruises
Burns
Dislocations
Electrical injuries
Fractures (broken bones)
Sprains and strains

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Other ICD-10-CM Codes Commonly Used for Similar Conditions

Filter related codes list:

S81 Open wound of knee and lower leg.
S81.0 Open wound of knee.
S81.00 Unspecified open wound of knee.
S81.001 Unspecified open wound, right knee.
S81.001A Unspecified open wound, right knee, initial encounter.
S81.001D Unspecified open wound, right knee, subsequent encounter.
S81.001S Unspecified open wound, right knee, sequela.
S81.002 Unspecified open wound, left knee.
S81.002A Unspecified open wound, left knee, initial encounter.
S81.002D Unspecified open wound, left knee, subsequent encounter.
S81.002S Unspecified open wound, left knee, sequela.
S81.009 Unspecified open wound, unspecified knee.
S81.009A Unspecified open wound, unspecified knee, initial encounter.
S81.009D Unspecified open wound, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter.
S81.009S Unspecified open wound, unspecified knee, sequela.
S81.01 Laceration without foreign body of knee.
S81.011 Laceration without foreign body, right knee.
S81.011A Laceration without foreign body, right knee, initial encounter.
S81.011D Laceration without foreign body, right knee, subsequent encounter.
S81.011S Laceration without foreign body, right knee, sequela.
S81.012 Laceration without foreign body, left knee.
S81.012A Laceration without foreign body, left knee, initial encounter.
S81.012D Laceration without foreign body, left knee, subsequent encounter.
S81.012S Laceration without foreign body, left knee, sequela.
S81.019 Laceration without foreign body, unspecified knee.
S81.019A Laceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, initial encounter.
S81.019D Laceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter.
S81.019S Laceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, sequela.
S81.02 Laceration with foreign body of knee.
S81.021 Laceration with foreign body, right knee.
S81.021A Laceration with foreign body, right knee, initial encounter.
S81.021D Laceration with foreign body, right knee, subsequent encounter.
S81.021S Laceration with foreign body, right knee, sequela.
S81.022 Laceration with foreign body, left knee.
S81.022A Laceration with foreign body, left knee, initial encounter.
S81.022D Laceration with foreign body, left knee, subsequent encounter.
S81.022S Laceration with foreign body, left knee, sequela.
S81.029 Laceration with foreign body, unspecified knee.
S81.029A Laceration with foreign body, unspecified knee, initial encounter.
S81.029D Laceration with foreign body, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter.
S81.029S Laceration with foreign body, unspecified knee, sequela.
S81.03 Puncture wound without foreign body of knee.
S81.031 Puncture wound without foreign body, right knee.
S81.031A Puncture wound without foreign body, right knee, initial encounter.
S81.031D Puncture wound without foreign body, right knee, subsequent encounter.
S81.031S Puncture wound without foreign body, right knee, sequela.
S81.032 Puncture wound without foreign body, left knee.
S81.032A Puncture wound without foreign body, left knee, initial encounter.
S81.032D Puncture wound without foreign body, left knee, subsequent encounter.
S81.032S Puncture wound without foreign body, left knee, sequela.
S81.039 Puncture wound without foreign body, unspecified knee.

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.