S51 — Open wound of elbow and forearm
Is S51 billable?
No — S51 is a non-billable header code. S51 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 60 billable codes beneath S51.
Billable codes under this header
- S51.001AUnspecified open wound of right elbow, initial encounter
- S51.001DUnspecified open wound of right elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.001SUnspecified open wound of right elbow, sequela
- S51.002AUnspecified open wound of left elbow, initial encounter
- S51.002DUnspecified open wound of left elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.002SUnspecified open wound of left elbow, sequela
- S51.009AUnspecified open wound of unspecified elbow, initial encounter
- S51.009DUnspecified open wound of unspecified elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.009SUnspecified open wound of unspecified elbow, sequela
- S51.011ALaceration without foreign body of right elbow, initial encounter
- S51.011DLaceration without foreign body of right elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.011SLaceration without foreign body of right elbow, sequela
- S51.012ALaceration without foreign body of left elbow, initial encounter
- S51.012DLaceration without foreign body of left elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.012SLaceration without foreign body of left elbow, sequela
- S51.019ALaceration without foreign body of unspecified elbow, initial encounter
- S51.019DLaceration without foreign body of unspecified elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.019SLaceration without foreign body of unspecified elbow, sequela
- S51.021ALaceration with foreign body of right elbow, initial encounter
- S51.021DLaceration with foreign body of right elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.021SLaceration with foreign body of right elbow, sequela
- S51.022ALaceration with foreign body of left elbow, initial encounter
- S51.022DLaceration with foreign body of left elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.022SLaceration with foreign body of left elbow, sequela
- S51.029ALaceration with foreign body of unspecified elbow, initial encounter
- S51.029DLaceration with foreign body of unspecified elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.029SLaceration with foreign body of unspecified elbow, sequela
- S51.031APuncture wound without foreign body of right elbow, initial encounter
- S51.031DPuncture wound without foreign body of right elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.031SPuncture wound without foreign body of right elbow, sequela
- S51.032APuncture wound without foreign body of left elbow, initial encounter
- S51.032DPuncture wound without foreign body of left elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.032SPuncture wound without foreign body of left elbow, sequela
- S51.039APuncture wound without foreign body of unspecified elbow, initial encounter
- S51.039DPuncture wound without foreign body of unspecified elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.039SPuncture wound without foreign body of unspecified elbow, sequela
- S51.041APuncture wound with foreign body of right elbow, initial encounter
- S51.041DPuncture wound with foreign body of right elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.041SPuncture wound with foreign body of right elbow, sequela
- S51.042APuncture wound with foreign body of left elbow, initial encounter
- S51.042DPuncture wound with foreign body of left elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.042SPuncture wound with foreign body of left elbow, sequela
- S51.049APuncture wound with foreign body of unspecified elbow, initial encounter
- S51.049DPuncture wound with foreign body of unspecified elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.049SPuncture wound with foreign body of unspecified elbow, sequela
- S51.051AOpen bite, right elbow, initial encounter
- S51.051DOpen bite, right elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.051SOpen bite, right elbow, sequela
- S51.052AOpen bite, left elbow, initial encounter
- S51.052DOpen bite, left elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.052SOpen bite, left elbow, sequela
- S51.059AOpen bite, unspecified elbow, initial encounter
- S51.059DOpen bite, unspecified elbow, subsequent encounter
- S51.059SOpen bite, unspecified elbow, sequela
- S51.801AUnspecified open wound of right forearm, initial encounter
- S51.801DUnspecified open wound of right forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.801SUnspecified open wound of right forearm, sequela
- S51.802AUnspecified open wound of left forearm, initial encounter
- S51.802DUnspecified open wound of left forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.802SUnspecified open wound of left forearm, sequela
S51 at a glance
| Code | S51 |
|---|---|
| Description | Open wound of elbow and forearm |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Excludes1 — never code together
The conditions below can never be reported together with S51 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Excludes2 — not included here
The conditions below are not part of S51, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S51 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- open wound of wrist and hand (S61.-)
Code also
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether S51 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- any associated wound infection
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside S51 to fully describe the condition. S51 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 S51, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S51 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S50-S59
The conditions below are not part of S51, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S51 and the excluded code may both be reported.
What codes fall under S51? (2)
How long has S51 existed?
S51 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.