S85.501A — Unspecified injury of popliteal vein, right leg, initial encounter
Is S85.501A billable?
Yes, but S85.501A is an unspecified code. S85.501A is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, S85.501A 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 S85.501A — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
S85.501A at a glance
| Code | S85.501A |
|---|---|
| Description | Unspecified injury of popliteal vein, right leg, 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 S85.501A?
In S85.501A, the 7th character A means initial encounter. The 7th character is required for S85.501A to be a valid, complete code.
Same condition, different episode of care — switch the 7th character:
Which MS-DRGs does S85.501A group to?
S85.501A 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, S85.501A is a major complication or comorbidity (MCC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is S85.501A listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under S85.50, the nearest indexed parent of S85.501A. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Injury › blood vessel NEC › popliteal › vein
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside S85.501A to fully describe the condition. S85.501A 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 S85.501A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S85.501A and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S80-S89
The conditions below are not part of S85.501A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S85.501A and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S85
The conditions below are not part of S85.501A, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S85.501A and the excluded code may both be reported.
- injury of blood vessels at ankle and foot level (S95.-)
Code also — inherited from S85
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether S85.501A is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- any associated open wound (S81.-)
How long has S85.501A existed?
S85.501A 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.