S21 vs S28.1
S21 and S28.1 can never be reported together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note, meaning the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient — so exactly one of them is correct for any given encounter.
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