2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S81.009DUnspecified open wound, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S80-S89›S81

ICD-10-CM S81.009D
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

S81.009D is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified open wound, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter. The 7th character D marks it as a subsequent encounter code, used during routine care in the healing or recovery phase. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 949 through 950. The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Open wounds to limbs, subsequent encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S81.009D
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Unspecified open wound, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter
Short Description
Unspecified open wound, unspecified knee, subs encntr
Parent Code
S81.009
Unspecified open wound, unspecified knee

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS80-S89Injuries to the knee and lower leg
CategoryS81Open wound of knee and lower leg
This CodeS81.009DUnspecified open wound, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

S81.009D is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review the other POA exempt codes in Injuries to the knee and lower leg (S80-S89).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Comminuted fracture of patella
  • Disruption of medial collateral ligament of knee joint
  • Fracture dislocation of patellofemoral joint
  • Fracture subluxation of knee joint
  • Fracture subluxation of patellofemoral joint
  • Glass in knee
  • Open anterior dislocation of distal end of femur
  • Open anterior dislocation of proximal end of tibia
  • Open comminuted fracture of patella
  • Open dislocation of knee
  • Open dislocation of patella
  • Open division anterior cruciate ligament knee
  • Open division lateral collateral ligament knee
  • Open division ligament knee
  • Open division medial collateral ligament knee
  • Open division posterior cruciate ligament knee
  • Open fracture dislocation of knee joint
  • Open fracture dislocation of patellofemoral joint
  • Open fracture of bone of knee joint
  • Open fracture of patella
  • Open fracture patella, distal pole
  • Open fracture patella, proximal pole
  • Open fracture patella, transverse
  • Open fracture patella, vertical
  • Open fracture subluxation of knee joint
  • Open fracture subluxation of patellofemoral joint
  • Open lateral dislocation of proximal end of tibia
  • Open medial dislocation of proximal end of tibia
  • Open posterior dislocation of distal end of femur
  • Open posterior dislocation of proximal end of tibia
  • Open stellate fracture of patella
  • Open traumatic dislocation knee joint, anterior
  • Open traumatic dislocation knee joint, lateral
  • Open traumatic dislocation knee joint, medial
  • Open traumatic dislocation knee joint, posterior
  • Open traumatic dislocation knee joint, rotatory
  • Open traumatic dislocation of patellofemoral joint
  • Open traumatic dislocation patellofemoral joint, lateral
  • Open traumatic dislocation patellofemoral joint, medial
  • Open traumatic dislocation, head of fibula
  • Open traumatic subluxation knee joint
  • Open traumatic subluxation knee joint, anterior
  • Open traumatic subluxation knee joint, lateral
  • Open traumatic subluxation knee joint, medial
  • Open traumatic subluxation knee joint, posterior
  • Open traumatic subluxation knee joint, rotatory
  • Open traumatic subluxation patellofemoral joint
  • Open traumatic subluxation patellofemoral joint, lateral
  • Open traumatic subluxation patellofemoral joint, medial
  • Open traumatic subluxation, head of fibula
  • Open wound of knee
  • Open wound of popliteal region

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

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 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 S81.009D: its own notes plus those printed at S81, block S80-S89, 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 S81 Open wound of knee and lower leg applies to 108 codes
  • open fracture of knee and lower leg (S82.-)
  • traumatic amputation of lower leg (S88.-)

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 S81 Open wound of knee and lower leg applies to 108 codes
  • open wound of ankle and foot (S91.-)
From Block S80-S89 Injuries to the knee and lower leg applies to 4,680 codes
  • burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
  • frostbite (T33-T34)
  • injuries of ankle and foot, except fracture of ankle and malleolus (S90-S99)
  • 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 S81 Open wound of knee and lower leg applies to 108 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 S81 Open wound of knee and lower leg applies to 108 codes
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S81
Values for category S81 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter
  • Dsubsequent encounter this code
  • 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 S81.009D, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming S81.009D: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • S71 Open wound of hip and thigh
    open wound of knee and lower leg (S81.-) names S81.-, which includes this code

Code Also 3

These codes say S81.009D may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • S84 Injury of nerves at lower leg level
    any associated open wound (S81.-) names S81.-, which includes this code
  • S85 Injury of blood vessels at lower leg level
    any associated open wound (S81.-) names S81.-, which includes this code
  • S86 Injury of muscle, fascia and tendon at lower leg level
    any associated open wound (S81.-) names S81.-, which includes this code

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR INJ049
Open wounds to limbs, subsequent encounter
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Knee Injuries and Disorders

Your knee joint is made up of bone, cartilage, ligaments and fluid. Muscles and tendons help the knee joint move. When any of these structures is hurt or diseased, you have knee problems. Knee problems can cause pain and difficulty walking.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert S81.009D to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V58.89 Other specfied aftercare
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 S81.009DOverview

What is the ICD-10 code for unspecified open wound, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter?

The ICD-10-CM code for unspecified open wound, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter is S81.009D (sometimes written as S81009D). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is S81.009D (Unspecified open wound, unspecified knee) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified open wound, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What does the 7th character D in S81.009D mean?

The final character D marks a subsequent encounter: use it for routine care while the unspecified open wound, unspecified knee is healing, after active treatment has ended.

What MS-DRG does S81.009D group to?

When unspecified open wound, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 950, 949, with relative weights from 0.7661 to 1.1231 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is S81.009D exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for unspecified open wound, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Injuries to the knee and lower leg (S80-S89) range of the CMS exempt list.