T16.1XXS vs T81.5
T16.1XXS (Foreign body in right ear, sequela) compared with T81.5 (Complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure), 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. T16.1XXS carries an Excludes2 note covering T81.5: “foreign body accidentally left in operation wound (T81.5-)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| T16.1XXSForeign body in right ear, sequela | T81.5Complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Billable | Non-billable header Report instead: T81.500A, T81.500D, T81.500S, T81.501A, T81.501D |
| Classification | S00-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) |
| Definition | Foreign body in right ear, sequela is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (T16.1S). | Complications of foreign body accidentally left in body following procedure is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (T81.5). |
| 7th character | The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T16 | The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81 |
| Includes | foreign body in auditory canal | — |
| Use additional code | code, if known, for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice (W44.-) | code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5) code(s) to identify the specified condition resulting from the complication code to identify devices involved and details of circumstances (Y62-Y82) |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources