W26.9 — Contact with unspecified sharp object(s)
Is W26.9 billable?
No — W26.9 is a non-billable header code. W26.9 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 3 billable codes beneath W26.9.
W26.9 at a glance
| Code | W26.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Contact with unspecified sharp object(s) |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
How is W26.9 listed in the External Cause Index?
These are the routes through the External Cause of Injuries Index that lead to W26.9 — how the injury happened, rather than what the injury was.
- Contact › with › sharp object (accidental)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from W20-W49
The conditions below can never be reported together with W26.9 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 — inherited from W26
The conditions below are not part of W26.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, W26.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- sharp object(s) embedded in skin (W45.-)
What codes fall under W26.9? (3)
How long has W26.9 existed?
W26.9 first appears in FY2018 (FY2017 is not available, so it may have appeared then).
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.