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S56.421A vs S56.422A

S56.421A (Laceration of extensor muscle, fascia and tendon of right index finger at forearm level, initial encounter) compared with S56.422A (Laceration of extensor muscle, fascia and tendon of left index finger at forearm level, initial encounter), from the official CMS tabular data. S56.421A and S56.422A code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

S56.421A
Right
Laceration of extensor muscle, fascia and tendon of right index finger at forearm level, initial encounter
S56.422A
Left
Laceration of extensor muscle, fascia and tendon of left index finger at forearm level, initial encounter

Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.

These codes share a category and title and differ only in the side affected. The documentation decides which applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Source: ICD-10-CM tabular list (laterality variant derived from the code title)

Can these codes be reported together?

Same condition, opposite side. S56.421A and S56.422A name the same condition on opposite sides of the body.

Same category and title, differing only in which side is affected — the documentation decides which one applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Side by side

S56.421ALaceration of extensor muscle, fascia and tendon of right index finger at forearm level, initial encounterS56.422ALaceration of extensor muscle, fascia and tendon of left index finger at forearm level, initial encounter
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 extensor muscle, fascia and tendon of right index finger at forearm level, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S56.421A).Laceration of extensor muscle, fascia and tendon of left index finger at forearm level, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S56.422A).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S56The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S56

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