2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code W44Foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice

ICD-10-CM Codes›V01–Y99›W20-W49›W44

ICD-10-CM W44
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

W44 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as W44.8XXA, W44.8XXD, W44.8XXS, and W44.9XXA.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
W44
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice
Short Description
Foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
W20-W49
Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces

Code Classification

ChapterV01–Y99External causes of morbidity and mortality
SectionW20-W49Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces
CategoryW44Foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice
This CodeW44Foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice

Specific Coding for Foreign body entering into or through a natural orificeOverview

Non-specific codes like W44 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • W44.8 for Other foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.9 for Unspecified foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.A for Battery entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.A0 for Battery unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.A1 for Button battery entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.A9 for Other batteries entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.B for Plastic entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.B0 for Plastic object unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.B1 for Plastic bead entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.B2 for Plastic coin entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.B3 for Plastic toy and toy part entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.B4 for Plastic jewelry entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.B5 for Plastic bottle entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.B9 for Other plastic object entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.C for Glass entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.C0 for Glass unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.C1 for Sharp glass entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.C2 for Intact glass entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.D for Magnetic metal entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.D0 for Magnetic metal object unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.D1 for Magnetic metal bead entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.D2 for Magnetic metal coin entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.D3 for Magnetic metal toy entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.D4 for Magnetic metal jewelry entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.D9 for Other magnetic metal objects entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.E for Non-magnetic metal entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.E0 for Non-magnetic metal object unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.E1 for Non-magnetic metal bead entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.E2 for Non-magnetic metal coin entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.E3 for Non-magnetic metal toy entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.E4 for Non-magnetic metal jewelry entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.E9 for Other non-magnetic metal objects entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.F for Objects of natural or organic material entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.F0 for Objects of natural or organic material unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.F1 for Bezoar entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.F2 for Rubber band entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.F3 for Food entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.F4 for Insect entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.F9 for Other object of natural or organic material, entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.G for Other non-organic objects entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.G0 for Other non-organic objects unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.G1 for Audio device entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.G2 for Combination metal and plastic toy and toy part entering into or through natural orifice

  • W44.G3 for Combination metal and plastic jewelry entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.G9 for Other non-organic objects entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.H for Other sharp object entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.H0 for Other sharp object unspecified, entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.H1 for Needle entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.H2 for Knife, sword or dagger entering into or through a natural orifice

  • W44.H9 for Other sharp object entering into or through a natural orifice

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to W44: its own notes plus those printed at block W20-W49 and Chapter 20. 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 Block W20-W49 Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces applies to 510 codes
  • assault (X92-Y09)
  • contact or collision with animals or persons (W50-W64)
  • exposure to inanimate mechanical forces involving military or war operations (Y36.-, Y37.-)
  • intentional self-harm (X71-X83)

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.

  • contact with other sharp objects (W26)
  • contact with sharp glass (W25)
  • foreign body or object entering through skin (W45)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 20 (V00-Y99) External causes of morbidity and mortality applies to 7,461 codes
  • This chapter permits the classification of environmental events and circumstances as the cause of injury, and other adverse effects. Where a code from this section is applicable, it is intended that it shall be used secondary to a code from another chapter of the Classification indicating the nature of the condition. Most often, the condition will be classifiable to Chapter 19, Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88). Other conditions that may be stated to be due to external causes are classified in Chapters I to XVIII. For these conditions, codes from Chapter 20 should be used to provide additional information as to the cause of the condition.

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.

  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category W44
Values for category W44 Encounter: Initial, Subsequent, Sequela
  • Ainitial encounter
  • 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 W44, its category, or a range that includes it.

Use Additional Code 1

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and W44 is one of the codes named.

  • Block T15-T19 Effects of foreign body entering through natural orifice
    code, if known, for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice (W44.-)

Patient EducationClinical

Foreign Bodies

If you've ever gotten a splinter or had sand in your eye, you've had experience with a foreign body. A foreign body is something that is stuck inside you but isn't supposed to be there. You may inhale or swallow a foreign body, or you may get one from an injury to almost any part of your body.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2024AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2023.
FY 2025–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About W44Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice?

W44 is the ICD-10-CM category for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is W44 (Foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice need a more specific code from this category, such as W44.8XXA, W44.8XXD, and W44.8XXS.

Can W44 be reported with a code from Y36?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at block W20-W49, which applies to W44, lists "exposure to inanimate mechanical forces involving military or war operations (Y36.-, Y37.-)". 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).