Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces (W20-W49) ICD-10-CM
The W20–W49 section covers exposure to inanimate mechanical forces with 728 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, of which 510 are billable in fiscal year 2027. The section is organized into the 26 code ranges listed below.
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
Code Ranges in This Section 26 ranges · 728 codes
The info icon previews the code ranges inside each row and its instructional notations from the official Tabular List.
About the W20–W49 Code Range
These codes describe outside forces and events involving objects, machinery, firearms, explosions, noise, and objects entering the body.
The categories distinguish how contact happens and what is involved. W20 concerns thrown or falling objects, while W21 identifies sports equipment. W23 separates trapping between moving and stationary objects. Other categories distinguish sharp glass, other sharp objects, hand tools, and types of machinery.
Firearm categories separate handgun events from those involving larger or other guns, then distinguish accidental discharge from malfunction. Explosion categories separate boilers, gas cylinders, pressurized devices, fireworks, and other materials. W44 identifies objects entering through a natural body opening by material or object type; W45 concerns objects entering through skin.
For categories W20 through W34, a seventh character distinguishes an initial encounter, a subsequent encounter, or a later effect called a sequela.
Questions About This Page
How many codes are in the W20-W49 range?
The W20-W49 range contains 728 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes in FY 2027. 510 of them are billable, and the rest are category headers that organize the section.
What conditions does W20-W49 cover?
The range covers exposure to inanimate mechanical forces. The code ranges listed above break it into groups of related conditions, and each one links to its own page with the full code list.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
