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Compare/S41 vs S42

S41 vs S42

S41 (Open wound of shoulder and upper arm) compared with S42 (Fracture of shoulder and upper arm), 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. S41 carries an Excludes2 note covering S42: “open fracture of shoulder and upper arm (S42.- with 7th character B or C)”

Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.

Side by side

S41Open wound of shoulder and upper armS42Fracture of shoulder and upper arm
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: S41.001A, S41.001D, S41.001S, S41.002A, S41.002D

Non-billable header

Report instead: S42.001A, S42.001B, S42.001D, S42.001G, S42.001K

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 shoulder and upper arm is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S41).Fracture of shoulder and upper arm is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S42).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S41The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from category S42
Includes
injuries of axilla
injuries of scapular region
injuries of axilla
injuries of scapular region

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