Foreign body in ear (T16)
The ICD-10 code section T16 covers medical conditions involving a foreign body in the ear. These codes specifically categorize cases by the ear affected; right (T16.1), left (T16.2), or unspecified (T16.9); and by the stage of care, such as initial encounter, subsequent encounters, or sequela (long-term effects).
This code range is used to accurately describe situations where an object such as an insect, metal fragment, glass, or any other foreign material is lodged in parts of the ear including the auditory canal, auricle, middle ear, or external ear. The codes with extensions like T16.1XXA or T16.2XXD help healthcare professionals document whether the patient is receiving initial treatment, follow-up care, or managing complications related to the foreign body. By including synonyms such as "foreign body in auditory canal" or "retained foreign body of middle ear," these codes enable precise selection for medical billing and clinical records. This detailed classification under the ICD-10 code for foreign body in ear supports clear communication and proper management in cases involving ear foreign objects across diverse clinical scenarios.
Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00–T88)
Effects of foreign body entering through natural orifice (T15-T19)
T16 Foreign body in ear
T16.1 Foreign body in right ear
- T16.1XXA Foreign body in right ear, initial encounter
- T16.1XXD Foreign body in right ear, subsequent encounter
- T16.1XXS Foreign body in right ear, sequela
T16.2 Foreign body in left ear
- T16.2XXA Foreign body in left ear, initial encounter
- T16.2XXD Foreign body in left ear, subsequent encounter
- T16.2XXS Foreign body in left ear, sequela
T16.9 Foreign body in ear, unspecified ear
- T16.9XXA Foreign body in ear, unspecified ear, initial encounter
- T16.9XXD Foreign body in ear, unspecified ear, subsequent encounter
- T16.9XXS Foreign body in ear, unspecified ear, sequela
Foreign body in ear (T16)
Instructional Notations
Includes
This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.
- foreign body in auditory canal
7th Character Note
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T16
7th Character
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
