S81 — Open wound of knee and lower leg
Is S81 billable?
No — S81 is a non-billable header code. S81 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 S81.
Billable codes under this header
- S81.001AUnspecified open wound, right knee, initial encounter
- S81.001DUnspecified open wound, right knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.001SUnspecified open wound, right knee, sequela
- S81.002AUnspecified open wound, left knee, initial encounter
- S81.002DUnspecified open wound, left knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.002SUnspecified open wound, left knee, sequela
- S81.009AUnspecified open wound, unspecified knee, initial encounter
- S81.009DUnspecified open wound, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.009SUnspecified open wound, unspecified knee, sequela
- S81.011ALaceration without foreign body, right knee, initial encounter
- S81.011DLaceration without foreign body, right knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.011SLaceration without foreign body, right knee, sequela
- S81.012ALaceration without foreign body, left knee, initial encounter
- S81.012DLaceration without foreign body, left knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.012SLaceration without foreign body, left knee, sequela
- S81.019ALaceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, initial encounter
- S81.019DLaceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.019SLaceration without foreign body, unspecified knee, sequela
- S81.021ALaceration with foreign body, right knee, initial encounter
- S81.021DLaceration with foreign body, right knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.021SLaceration with foreign body, right knee, sequela
- S81.022ALaceration with foreign body, left knee, initial encounter
- S81.022DLaceration with foreign body, left knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.022SLaceration with foreign body, left knee, sequela
- S81.029ALaceration with foreign body, unspecified knee, initial encounter
- S81.029DLaceration with foreign body, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.029SLaceration with foreign body, unspecified knee, sequela
- S81.031APuncture wound without foreign body, right knee, initial encounter
- S81.031DPuncture wound without foreign body, right knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.031SPuncture wound without foreign body, right knee, sequela
- S81.032APuncture wound without foreign body, left knee, initial encounter
- S81.032DPuncture wound without foreign body, left knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.032SPuncture wound without foreign body, left knee, sequela
- S81.039APuncture wound without foreign body, unspecified knee, initial encounter
- S81.039DPuncture wound without foreign body, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.039SPuncture wound without foreign body, unspecified knee, sequela
- S81.041APuncture wound with foreign body, right knee, initial encounter
- S81.041DPuncture wound with foreign body, right knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.041SPuncture wound with foreign body, right knee, sequela
- S81.042APuncture wound with foreign body, left knee, initial encounter
- S81.042DPuncture wound with foreign body, left knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.042SPuncture wound with foreign body, left knee, sequela
- S81.049APuncture wound with foreign body, unspecified knee, initial encounter
- S81.049DPuncture wound with foreign body, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.049SPuncture wound with foreign body, unspecified knee, sequela
- S81.051AOpen bite, right knee, initial encounter
- S81.051DOpen bite, right knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.051SOpen bite, right knee, sequela
- S81.052AOpen bite, left knee, initial encounter
- S81.052DOpen bite, left knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.052SOpen bite, left knee, sequela
- S81.059AOpen bite, unspecified knee, initial encounter
- S81.059DOpen bite, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter
- S81.059SOpen bite, unspecified knee, sequela
- S81.801AUnspecified open wound, right lower leg, initial encounter
- S81.801DUnspecified open wound, right lower leg, subsequent encounter
- S81.801SUnspecified open wound, right lower leg, sequela
- S81.802AUnspecified open wound, left lower leg, initial encounter
- S81.802DUnspecified open wound, left lower leg, subsequent encounter
- S81.802SUnspecified open wound, left lower leg, sequela
S81 at a glance
| Code | S81 |
|---|---|
| Description | Open wound of knee and lower leg |
| 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 S81 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 S81, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S81 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- open wound of ankle and foot (S91.-)
Code also
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether S81 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 S81 to fully describe the condition. S81 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 S81, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S81 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S80-S89
The conditions below are not part of S81, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S81 and the excluded code may both be reported.
What codes fall under S81? (2)
How long has S81 existed?
S81 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.