2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S81.019SLaceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, sequela
S81.019S is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for laceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, sequela. The 7th character S marks it as a sequela code, which reports a problem that remains after the original condition has resolved. 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. The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as cut of knee. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Injury, sequela.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
S81.019S is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Cut of knee
- Deep laceration of knee
- Deep laceration of lower limb
- Laceration of knee
- Superficial laceration of knee
- Superficial laceration of lower limb
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 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
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 S81.019S to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About S81.019SOverview
Is S81.019S (Laceration without foreign body, unspecified knee) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report laceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, sequela on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character S in S81.019S mean?
The final character S makes this a sequela code: it reports a lingering problem that remains after the laceration without foreign body, unspecified knee itself has resolved, not the original event.
What MS-DRG does S81.019S group to?
When laceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, sequela is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 604, 605, with relative weights from 0.9160 to 1.4721 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is S81.019S 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 laceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, sequela on inpatient claims.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S81.019S?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, laceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, sequela converts to ICD-9-CM 906.1 (late eff open wnd extrem). 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.
