2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Y81General- and plastic-surgery devices associated with adverse incidents

ICD-10-CM Codes›V01–Y99›Y70-Y82›Y81

ICD-10-CM Y81
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

Y81 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for general- and plastic-surgery devices associated with adverse incidents, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as Y81.0, Y81.1, Y81.2, and Y81.3.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Y81
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
General- and plastic-surgery devices associated with adverse incidents
Short Description
General- and plastic-surgery devices assoc w incdt
Chapter
Y70-Y82
Medical devices associated with adverse incidents in diagnostic and therapeutic use

Code Classification

ChapterV01–Y99External causes of morbidity and mortality
SectionY70-Y82Medical devices associated with adverse incidents in diagnostic and therapeutic use
CategoryY81General- and plastic-surgery devices associated with adverse incidents
This CodeY81General- and plastic-surgery devices associated with adverse incidents

Specific Coding for General- and plastic-surgery devices assoc w incdtOverview

Non-specific codes like Y81 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use Y81.0 for Diagnostic and monitoring general- and plastic-surgery devices associated with adverse incidents

  • Use Y81.1 for Therapeutic (nonsurgical) and rehabilitative general- and plastic-surgery devices associated with adverse incidents

  • Use Y81.2 for Prosthetic and other implants, materials and accessory general- and plastic-surgery devices associated with adverse incidents

  • Use Y81.3 for Surgical instruments, materials and general- and plastic-surgery devices (including sutures) associated with adverse incidents

  • Use Y81.8 for Miscellaneous general- and plastic-surgery devices associated with adverse incidents, not elsewhere classified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to Y81: its own notes plus those printed at block Y70-Y82, block Y62-Y84, and Chapter 20. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From Block Y70-Y82 Medical devices associated with adverse incidents in diagnostic and therapeutic use applies to 63 codes
  • breakdown or malfunction of medical devices (during use) (after implantation) (ongoing use)
From Block Y62-Y84 Complications of medical and surgical care applies to 115 codes
  • complications of medical devices
  • surgical and medical procedures as the cause of abnormal reaction of the patient, or of later complication, without mention of misadventure at the time of the procedure

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 Block Y70-Y82 Medical devices associated with adverse incidents in diagnostic and therapeutic use applies to 63 codes
  • later complications following use of medical devices without breakdown or malfunctioning of device (Y83-Y84)
  • misadventure to patients during surgical and medical care, classifiable to (Y62-Y69)
  • surgical and other medical procedures as the cause of abnormal reaction of the patient, or of later complication, without mention of misadventure at the time of the procedure (Y83-Y84)

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.

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name Y81, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 2

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming Y81: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • Block Y62-Y69 Misadventures to patients during surgical and medical care
    breakdown or malfunctioning of medical device (during procedure) (after implantation) (ongoing use) (Y70-Y82) names Y70-Y82, which includes this code
  • Block Y83-Y84 Surgical and other medical procedures as the cause of abnormal reaction of the patient, or of later complication, without mention of misadventure at the time of the procedure
    breakdown or malfunctioning of medical device (after implantation) (during procedure) (ongoing use) (Y70-Y82) names Y70-Y82, which includes this code

Use Additional Code 1

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and Y81 is one of the codes named.

  • Block T80-T88 Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified
    code to identify devices involved and details of circumstances (Y62-Y82) names Y62-Y82, which includes this code

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 Y81Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for general- and plastic-surgery devices associated with adverse incidents?

Y81 is the ICD-10-CM category for general- and plastic-surgery devices associated with adverse incidents, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is Y81 a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for general- and plastic-surgery devices associated with adverse incidents, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for general- and plastic-surgery devices associated with adverse incidents need a more specific code from this category, such as Y81.0, Y81.1, and Y81.2.