O71.6 vs S33-
O71.6 and S33 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.
Obstetric damage to pelvic joints and ligaments
- Chapter 15
- Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
- Section
- O60-O77
- Obstetric avulsion of inner symphyseal cartilage
- Obstetric damage to coccyx
- Obstetric traumatic separation of symphysis (pubis)
- Avulsion › symphyseal cartilage, complicating delivery (inner)
- Damage › coccyx, complicating delivery
- Separation › pubic bone, obstetrical trauma
- Separation › symphysis pubis, obstetrical trauma
- Avulsion › cartilage › symphyseal, complicating delivery (inner)
Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of lumbar spine and pelvis
- Chapter 19
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
- Section
- S30-S39
- avulsion of joint or ligament of lumbar spine and pelvis
- laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament of lumbar spine and pelvis
- sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament of lumbar spine and pelvis
- traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament of lumbar spine and pelvis
- traumatic rupture of joint or ligament of lumbar spine and pelvis
- traumatic subluxation of joint or ligament of lumbar spine and pelvis
- traumatic tear of joint or ligament of lumbar spine and pelvis
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