S21.25 vs T33
S21.25 (Open bite of back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavity) compared with T33 (Superficial frostbite), from the official CMS tabular data. Both may be reported when both conditions are documented (Excludes2).
Can these codes be reported together?
Yes, when both are documented. S21.25 carries an Excludes2 note covering T33: “frostbite (T33-T34)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| S21.25Open bite of back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavity | T33Superficial frostbite | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Non-billable header Report instead: T33.011A, T33.011D, T33.011S, T33.012A, T33.012D |
| Classification | S00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88) | S00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88) |
| Definition | Open bite of back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavity is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S21.25). | Superficial frostbite is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (T33). |
| 7th character | The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S21 | The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T33 |
| Includes | injuries of breast injuries of chest (wall) injuries of interscapular area Bite of back wall of thorax NOS | frostbite with partial thickness skin loss |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources