Excludes1 pair
S09- vs S09.2-
S09 and S09.2 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 S09.2
traumatic rupture of ear drum due to blast injury (S09.31-)
S09
Other and unspecified injuries of head
Not billable
- Chapter 19
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
- Section
- S00-S09
S09.2
Traumatic rupture of ear drum
Not billable
- Chapter 19
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
- Section
- S00-S09
Indexed under
- Puncture › tympanum, tympanic membrane
- Wound, open › tympanum, tympanic membrane
- Laceration › ear › drum
- Perforation, perforated › tympanum, tympanic › traumatic, current episode
- Puncture › ear › drum
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