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Compare/S31 vs S38.3

S31 vs S38.3

S31 (Open wound of abdomen, lower back, pelvis and external genitals) compared with S38.3 (Transection (partial) of abdomen), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.

Can these codes be reported together?

No — do not report together. S31 carries an Excludes1 note covering S38.3: “traumatic amputation of part of abdomen, lower back and pelvis (S38.2-, S38.3)”

Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Side by side

S31Open wound of abdomen, lower back, pelvis and external genitalsS38.3Transection (partial) of abdomen
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: S31.000A, S31.000D, S31.000S, S31.001A, S31.001D

Non-billable header

Report instead: S38.3XXA, S38.3XXD, S38.3XXS

ClassificationS00-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)
DefinitionOpen wound of abdomen, lower back, pelvis and external genitals is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S31).Transection (partial) of abdomen is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S38.3).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S31The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S38
Includes
injuries to the abdominal wall
injuries to the anus
injuries to the buttock
injuries to the external genitalia
injuries to the abdominal wall
injuries to the anus
injuries to the buttock
injuries to the external genitalia

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources