S31 vs S38.3
S31 and S38.3 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.
S31
Open wound of abdomen, lower back, pelvis and external genitals
Not billable
- Chapter 19
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
- Section
- S30-S39
S38.3
Transection (partial) of abdomen
Not billable
- Chapter 19
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
- Section
- S30-S39
Indexed under
- Transection › abdomen
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