FY2027
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Excludes1 pair

N88.1 vs O71.3

N88.1 and O71.3 are not coded together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note — the two conditions are not expected to occur together, so exactly one of them is normally correct for a given encounter. The Official Guidelines carve out one exception: if the two conditions are clearly unrelated to each other, both may be reported.

The official note, declared on N88.1
current obstetric trauma (O71.3)
N88.1

Old laceration of cervix uteri

Billable
Chapter 14
Diseases of the genitourinary system
Section
N80-N98
Use when the record says
  • Adhesions of cervix
Indexed under
  • Adhesions, adhesive › cervicovaginal
  • Adhesions, adhesive › cervix
  • Band › cervix
  • Cicatrix › cervix (postoperative) (postpartal)
  • Laceration › cervix › nonpuerperal, nontraumatic
O71.3

Obstetric laceration of cervix

Billable
Chapter 15
Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
Section
O60-O77
Use when the record says
  • Annular detachment of cervix
Indexed under
  • Detachment › cervix, annular › complicating delivery
  • Laceration › cervix › obstetrical trauma (current)
  • Perforation, perforated › cervix › obstetrical trauma
  • Rupture, ruptured › cervix › obstetrical trauma
  • Tear, torn › cervix › obstetrical trauma (current)

These two codes sit in different chapters of the Tabular List, which is usually the clearest signal that they describe different underlying processes rather than different degrees of the same one.

Excludes1 is not always absolute: where two conditions covered by the note are genuinely unrelated, CMS guidance permits reporting both. Document the reasoning rather than assuming it. More on Excludes1 vs Excludes2 · FY2027