S21.449 — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity
Is S21.449 billable?
No — S21.449 is a non-billable header code. S21.449 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 3 billable codes beneath S21.449.
Billable codes under this header
- S21.449APuncture wound with foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity, initial encounter
- S21.449DPuncture wound with foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity, subsequent encounter
- S21.449SPuncture wound with foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity, sequela
S21.449 at a glance
| Code | S21.449 |
|---|---|
| Description | Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
How is S21.449 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under S21.44, the nearest indexed parent of S21.449. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Puncture › thorax, thoracic › back › with › foreign body › with penetration
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from S21
The conditions below can never be reported together with S21.449 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- traumatic amputation (partial) of thorax (S28.1)
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside S21.449 to fully describe the condition. S21.449 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 S21.449, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S21.449 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S20-S29
The conditions below are not part of S21.449, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S21.449 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)
Code also — inherited from S21
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether S21.449 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
What codes fall under S21.449? (3)
- S21.449APuncture wound with foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity, initial encounter
- S21.449DPuncture wound with foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity, subsequent encounter
- S21.449SPuncture wound with foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity, sequela
How long has S21.449 existed?
S21.449 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.