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S81.802A vs S81.809A

S81.802A (Unspecified open wound, left lower leg, initial encounter) compared with S81.809A (Unspecified open wound, unspecified lower leg, initial encounter), from the official CMS tabular data. S81.802A and S81.809A code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

S81.802A
Left
Unspecified open wound, left lower leg, initial encounter
S81.809A
Unspecified
Unspecified open wound, unspecified lower leg, 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. S81.802A and S81.809A 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

S81.802AUnspecified open wound, left lower leg, initial encounterS81.809AUnspecified open wound, unspecified lower leg, 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)
DefinitionUnspecified open wound, left lower leg, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S81.802A).Unspecified open wound, unspecified lower leg, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S81.809A).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S81The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S81

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