Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm (S40) ICD-10-CM

About the S40 Code Range

ICD-10 code section S40 covers superficial injuries to the shoulder and upper arm, including contusions, abrasions, blisters, bites, foreign bodies, and external constrictions. These codes are used to specify the type, location, and encounter status of minor trauma affecting these areas.

This section includes detailed codes for contusions (bruises or hematomas), such as S40.011 for contusion of right shoulder, synonymous with terms like "hematoma of shoulder region" or "contusion of clavicular area." It also covers abrasions (scrapes) that may be infected, for example, S40.211 for abrasion of right shoulder, associated with synonyms like "infected abrasion of skin of right shoulder region." Nonthermal blisters are included, with codes like S40.221 for blister of right shoulder, which may present with infection. Additionally, insect bites and other superficial bites are coded with entries like S40.261 specifying nonvenomous insect bites of right shoulder, also referenced as "wound of right shoulder due to nonvenomous insect bite." Codes further distinguish superficial foreign bodies such as splinters (e.g., S40.251) and external constrictions (S40.241). Encounter types—initial, subsequent, and sequela—are captured by the 7th character extensions to ensure accurate clinical and billing documentation for superficial shoulder and upper arm injuries.