2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T81.31XADisruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›T80-T88›T81

ICD-10-CM T81.31XA
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

T81.31XA is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, 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 919 through 921. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) and moves an inpatient stay to a higher severity level within its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 55 closely related codes. Coders also document this condition as dehiscence of external surgical incision wound. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Complication of other surgical or medical care, injury, initial encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
T81.31XA
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter
Short Description
Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, NEC, init
Parent Code
T81.31
Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionT80-T88Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified
CategoryT81Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified
This CodeT81.31XADisruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Dehiscence of external surgical incision wound
  • Dehiscence of laparotomy wound
  • Dehiscence of postoperative abdominal wound
  • Dehiscence of surgical wound
  • Loose suture of cornea
  • Postoperative abdominal wound hemorrhage
  • Postoperative wound hemorrhage
  • Wound hemorrhage

Coding GuidelinesGuidance

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified (T81). 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 T81.31XA: its own notes plus those printed at T81.31, T81.3, T81, block T80-T88, 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 T81.31 Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified applies to 3 codes
  • dehiscence of amputation stump (T87.81)
From T81.3 Disruption of wound, not elsewhere classified applies to 21 codes
  • breakdown (mechanical) of permanent sutures (T85.612)
  • displacement of permanent sutures (T85.622)
  • disruption of cesarean delivery wound (O90.0)
  • disruption of perineal obstetric wound (O90.1)
  • mechanical complication of permanent sutures NEC (T85.692)

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 T81 Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified applies to 240 codes
From Block T80-T88 Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified applies to 1,683 codes
  • any encounters with medical care for postprocedural conditions in which no complications are present, such as:
  • artificial opening status (Z93.-)
  • closure of external stoma (Z43.-)
  • fitting and adjustment of external prosthetic device (Z44.-)
  • burns and corrosions from local applications and irradiation (T20-T32)
  • complications of surgical procedures during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • mechanical complication of respirator [ventilator] (J95.850)
  • poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4 or 6)
  • postprocedural fever (R50.82)
  • specified complications classified elsewhere, such as:
  • cerebrospinal fluid leak from spinal puncture (G97.0)
  • colostomy malfunction (K94.0-)
  • disorders of fluid and electrolyte imbalance (E86-E87)
  • functional disturbances following cardiac surgery (I97.0-I97.1)
  • intraoperative and postprocedural complications of specified body systems (D78.-, E36.-, E89.-, G97.3-, G97.4, H59.3-, H59.-, H95.2-, H95.3, I97.4-, I97.5, J95.6-, J95.7, K91.6-, L76.-, M96.-, N99.-)
  • ostomy complications (J95.0-, K94.-, N99.5-)
  • postgastric surgery syndromes (K91.1)
  • postlaminectomy syndrome NEC (M96.1)
  • postmastectomy lymphedema syndrome (I97.2)
  • postsurgical blind-loop syndrome (K91.2)
  • ventilator associated pneumonia (J95.851)
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 T81 Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified applies to 240 codes
  • code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
From Block T80-T88 Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified applies to 1,683 codes
  • code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
  • code(s) to identify the specified condition resulting from the complication
  • code to identify devices involved and details of circumstances (Y62-Y82)
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.-)

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 T81 Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified applies to 240 codes
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81
Values for category T81 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 T81.31XA, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming T81.31XA: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • T88 Other complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified
    complication following procedure NEC (T81.-) names T81.-, which includes this code

Code First 1

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and T81.31XA is one of the conditions named.

  • J98.51 Mediastinitis
    underlying condition, if applicable, such as postoperative mediastinitis (T81.-) names T81.-, which includes this code

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR INJ037
Complication of other surgical or medical care, injury, 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 T81.31XA to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
998.32 Disrup-external op wound
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 T81.31XAOverview

Is T81.31XA a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What does the 7th character A in T81.31XA mean?

The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.

What MS-DRG does T81.31XA group to?

When disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 920, 919, 921, with relative weights from 0.6719 to 1.7624 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is T81.31XA a CC or MCC?

CMS lists T81.31XA as a CC (complication or comorbidity) for FY 2027. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it moves the inpatient stay to a higher-weighted DRG within its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 55 closely related codes in its exclusion list.

Can T81.31XA be reported with T87.81?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at T81.31, which applies to T81.31XA, lists "dehiscence of amputation stump (T87.81)". 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).