Z18 — Retained foreign body fragments
Not billable
Is Z18 billable?
No — Z18 is a non-billable header code. Z18 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 14 billable codes beneath Z18.
Billable codes under this header
- Z18.2Retained plastic fragments
- Z18.9Retained foreign body fragments, unspecified material
- Z18.01Retained depleted uranium fragments
- Z18.09Other retained radioactive fragments
- Z18.10Retained metal fragments, unspecified
- Z18.11Retained magnetic metal fragments
- Z18.12Retained nonmagnetic metal fragments
- Z18.31Retained animal quills or spines
- Z18.32Retained tooth
- Z18.33Retained wood fragments
- Z18.39Other retained organic fragments
- Z18.81Retained glass fragments
- Z18.83Retained stone or crystalline fragments
- Z18.89Other specified retained foreign body fragments
Z18 at a glance
| Code | Z18 |
|---|---|
| Description | Retained foreign body fragments |
| 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 Z18 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- artificial joint prosthesis status (Z96.6-)
- foreign body accidentally left during a procedure (T81.5-)
- foreign body entering through orifice (T15-T19)
- in situ cardiac device (Z95.-)
- organ or tissue replaced by means other than transplant (Z96.-, Z97.-)
- organ or tissue replaced by transplant (Z94.-)
- personal history of retained foreign body fully removed Z87.821
- superficial foreign body (non-embedded splinter) - code to superficial foreign body, by site
Includes
Conditions classified to Z18.
- embedded fragment (status)
- embedded splinter (status)
- retained foreign body status
What codes fall under Z18? (6)
How long has Z18 existed?
Z18 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.