S51.85 — Open bite of forearm
Is S51.85 billable?
No — S51.85 is a non-billable header code. S51.85 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 9 billable codes beneath S51.85.
Billable codes under this header
- 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
S51.85 at a glance
| Code | S51.85 |
|---|---|
| Description | Open bite of forearm |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
How is S51.85 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to S51.85. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Bite › forearm (s) (animal) (human)
Excludes1 — never code together
The conditions below can never be reported together with S51.85 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to S51.85.
- Bite of forearm NOS
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from S51
The conditions below can never be reported together with S51.85 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 S51.85 to fully describe the condition. S51.85 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 S51.85, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S51.85 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S50-S59
The conditions below are not part of S51.85, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S51.85 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S51
The conditions below are not part of S51.85, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S51.85 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- open wound of wrist and hand (S61.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S51.8
The conditions below are not part of S51.85, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S51.85 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- open wound of elbow (S51.0-)
Code also — inherited from S51
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether S51.85 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- any associated wound infection
What codes fall under S51.85? (3)
How long has S51.85 existed?
S51.85 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.