S78.921A — Partial traumatic amputation of right hip and thigh, level unspecified, initial encounter
Is S78.921A billable?
Yes, but S78.921A is an unspecified code. S78.921A is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, S78.921A is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting S78.921A — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
S78.921A at a glance
| Code | S78.921A |
|---|---|
| Description | Partial traumatic amputation of right hip and thigh, level unspecified, 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 S78.921A?
In S78.921A, the 7th character A means initial encounter. The 7th character is required for S78.921A to be a valid, complete code.
Same condition, different episode of care — switch the 7th character:
Which MS-DRGs does S78.921A group to?
S78.921A sits in MDC 21 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.
- 913Traumatic Injury with MCCmedical
- 914Traumatic Injury without MCCmedical
As a secondary diagnosis, S78.921A is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is S78.921A listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under S78.92, the nearest indexed parent of S78.921A. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Amputation › traumatic › hip › partial
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from S78
The conditions below can never be reported together with S78.921A 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 of knee (S88.0-)
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside S78.921A to fully describe the condition. S78.921A 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 S78.921A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S78.921A and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S70-S79
The conditions below are not part of S78.921A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S78.921A and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has S78.921A existed?
S78.921A 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.