Excludes1 pair
S21- vs S28.1-
S21 and S28.1 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 S21
traumatic amputation (partial) of thorax (S28.1)
S21
Open wound of thorax
Not billable
- Chapter 19
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
- Section
- S20-S29
S28.1
Traumatic amputation (partial) of part of thorax, except breast
Not billable
- Chapter 19
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
- Section
- S20-S29
Indexed under
- Amputation › traumatic › thorax, part of
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