S20.451A — Superficial foreign body of right back wall of thorax, initial encounter
Is S20.451A billable?
Yes — S20.451A is billable for FY2027. S20.451A is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code at the highest level of specificity in its branch. S20.451A may be submitted for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
S20.451A at a glance
| Code | S20.451A |
|---|---|
| Description | Superficial foreign body of right back wall of thorax, initial encounter |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
| 7th character "A" | initial encounter |
What does the 7th character "A" mean in S20.451A?
In S20.451A, the 7th character A means initial encounter. The 7th character is required for S20.451A to be a valid, complete code.
Same condition, different episode of care — switch the 7th character:
Which MS-DRGs does S20.451A group to?
S20.451A sits in MDC 09 and helps define the logic of 2 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 604Trauma to the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast with MCCmedical
- 605Trauma to the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast without MCCmedical
How is S20.451A listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under S20.45, the nearest indexed parent of S20.451A. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Foreign body › superficial, without open wound › thorax, thoracic › back
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside S20.451A to fully describe the condition. S20.451A is sequenced first.
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 19
The conditions below are not part of S20.451A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S20.451A and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S20-S29
The conditions below are not part of S20.451A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S20.451A and the excluded code may both be reported.
- burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
- effects of foreign body in bronchus (T17.5)
- effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1)
- effects of foreign body in lung (T17.8)
- effects of foreign body in trachea (T17.4)
- frostbite (T33-T34)
- injuries of axilla
- injuries of clavicle
- injuries of scapular region
- injuries of shoulder
- insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
How long has S20.451A existed?
S20.451A has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.