S51.8 — Open wound of forearm
Is S51.8 billable?
No — S51.8 is a non-billable header code. S51.8 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 54 billable codes beneath S51.8.
Billable codes under this header
- 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
- S51.809AUnspecified open wound of unspecified forearm, initial encounter
- S51.809DUnspecified open wound of unspecified forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.809SUnspecified open wound of unspecified forearm, sequela
- S51.811ALaceration without foreign body of right forearm, initial encounter
- S51.811DLaceration without foreign body of right forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.811SLaceration without foreign body of right forearm, sequela
- S51.812ALaceration without foreign body of left forearm, initial encounter
- S51.812DLaceration without foreign body of left forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.812SLaceration without foreign body of left forearm, sequela
- S51.819ALaceration without foreign body of unspecified forearm, initial encounter
- S51.819DLaceration without foreign body of unspecified forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.819SLaceration without foreign body of unspecified forearm, sequela
- S51.821ALaceration with foreign body of right forearm, initial encounter
- S51.821DLaceration with foreign body of right forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.821SLaceration with foreign body of right forearm, sequela
- S51.822ALaceration with foreign body of left forearm, initial encounter
- S51.822DLaceration with foreign body of left forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.822SLaceration with foreign body of left forearm, sequela
- S51.829ALaceration with foreign body of unspecified forearm, initial encounter
- S51.829DLaceration with foreign body of unspecified forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.829SLaceration with foreign body of unspecified forearm, sequela
- S51.831APuncture wound without foreign body of right forearm, initial encounter
- S51.831DPuncture wound without foreign body of right forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.831SPuncture wound without foreign body of right forearm, sequela
- S51.832APuncture wound without foreign body of left forearm, initial encounter
- S51.832DPuncture wound without foreign body of left forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.832SPuncture wound without foreign body of left forearm, sequela
- S51.839APuncture wound without foreign body of unspecified forearm, initial encounter
- S51.839DPuncture wound without foreign body of unspecified forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.839SPuncture wound without foreign body of unspecified forearm, sequela
- S51.841APuncture wound with foreign body of right forearm, initial encounter
- S51.841DPuncture wound with foreign body of right forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.841SPuncture wound with foreign body of right forearm, sequela
- S51.842APuncture wound with foreign body of left forearm, initial encounter
- S51.842DPuncture wound with foreign body of left forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.842SPuncture wound with foreign body of left forearm, sequela
- S51.849APuncture wound with foreign body of unspecified forearm, initial encounter
- S51.849DPuncture wound with foreign body of unspecified forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.849SPuncture wound with foreign body of unspecified forearm, sequela
- S51.851AOpen bite of right forearm, initial encounter
- S51.851DOpen bite of right forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.851SOpen bite of right forearm, sequela
- S51.852AOpen bite of left forearm, initial encounter
- S51.852DOpen bite of left forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.852SOpen bite of left forearm, sequela
- S51.859AOpen bite of unspecified forearm, initial encounter
- S51.859DOpen bite of unspecified forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.859SOpen bite of unspecified forearm, sequela
S51.8 at a glance
| Code | S51.8 |
|---|---|
| Description | Open wound of forearm |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Excludes2 — not included here
The conditions below are not part of S51.8, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S51.8 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- open wound of elbow (S51.0-)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from S51
The conditions below can never be reported together with S51.8 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside S51.8 to fully describe the condition. S51.8 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 S51.8, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S51.8 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S50-S59
The conditions below are not part of S51.8, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S51.8 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S51
The conditions below are not part of S51.8, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S51.8 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- open wound of wrist and hand (S61.-)
Code also — inherited from S51
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether S51.8 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- any associated wound infection
What codes fall under S51.8? (6)
- S51.80Unspecified open wound of forearmnot billable
- S51.81Laceration without foreign body of forearmnot billable
- S51.82Laceration with foreign body of forearmnot billable
- S51.83Puncture wound without foreign body of forearmnot billable
- S51.84Puncture wound with foreign body of forearmnot billable
- S51.85Open bite of forearmnot billable
How long has S51.8 existed?
S51.8 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.