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S36.231A vs S36.231S

S36.231A (Laceration of body of pancreas, unspecified degree, initial encounter) compared with S36.231S (Laceration of body of pancreas, unspecified degree, sequela), from the official CMS tabular data. S36.231A and S36.231S code the same injury at a different phase of treatment.

Relationship

Review

Encounter relationship

S36.231A
Initial encounter
Laceration of body of pancreas, unspecified degree, initial encounter
S36.231S
Sequela
Laceration of body of pancreas, unspecified degree, sequela

Same underlying diagnosis, different encounter phase.

The 7th character records the phase of care for the encounter being coded, so a single encounter takes one of these characters, not several. Review whether both phases belong on the same episode of care.

Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.C.19.a

Can these codes be reported together?

Same injury, other encounter phase. S36.231A and S36.231S code the same injury at a different phase of treatment, set by the 7th character.

The 7th character records the type of care given at the encounter being coded (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.C.19.a), so one encounter takes one of these, not both.

Side by side

S36.231ALaceration of body of pancreas, unspecified degree, initial encounterS36.231SLaceration of body of pancreas, unspecified degree, sequela
Billing statusBillableBillable
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)
DefinitionLaceration of body of pancreas, unspecified degree, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S36.231A).Laceration of body of pancreas, unspecified degree, sequela is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S36.231S).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S36The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S36
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