2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S81.829ALaceration with foreign body, unspecified lower leg, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S80-S89›S81

ICD-10-CM S81.829A
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

S81.829A is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for laceration with foreign body, unspecified lower leg, 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 913 through 914, 963 through 965. Coders also document this condition as laceration of lower leg with foreign body. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Open wounds to limbs, initial encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
S81.829A
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Laceration with foreign body, unspecified lower leg, initial encounter
Short Description
Laceration with foreign body, unsp lower leg, init encntr
Parent Code
S81.829
Laceration with foreign body, unspecified lower leg

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 CodeS81.829ALaceration with foreign body, unspecified lower leg, initial encounter

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Laceration of lower leg with foreign body

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.

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 S81.829A to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
891.1 Open wnd knee/leg-compl
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 S81.829AOverview

Is S81.829A (Laceration with foreign body, unspecified lower leg) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report laceration with foreign body, unspecified lower leg, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What does the 7th character A in S81.829A mean?

The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for laceration with foreign body, unspecified lower leg, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.

What MS-DRG does S81.829A group to?

When laceration with foreign body, unspecified lower leg, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 913, 914, 963, 964, 965, with relative weights from 0.8855 to 2.7338 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of S81.829A?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, laceration with foreign body, unspecified lower leg, initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 891.1 (open wnd knee/leg-compl). 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.