Skip to main content

T20 vs T85.850

T20 (Burn and corrosion of head, face, and neck) compared with T85.850 (Stenosis due to nervous system prosthetic devices, implants and grafts), from the official CMS tabular data. Both may be reported when both conditions are documented (Excludes2).

Relationship

Informational

Excludes2 relationship

T85.850
Stenosis due to nervous system prosthetic devices, implants and grafts
T20
Burn and corrosion of head, face, and neck

Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

“burns and corrosions from local applications and irradiation (T20-T32)”

An Excludes2 note means the excluded condition is not part of the code above it, but a patient can have both. Report both when both are documented.

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes

Can these codes be reported together?

Yes, when both are documented. T85.850 carries an Excludes2 note covering T20: “burns and corrosions from local applications and irradiation (T20-T32)”

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

Side by side

T20Burn and corrosion of head, face, and neckT85.850Stenosis due to nervous system prosthetic devices, implants and grafts
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: T20.00XA, T20.00XD, T20.00XS, T20.011A, T20.011D

Non-billable header
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)
DefinitionBurn and corrosion of head, face, and neck is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (T20).Stenosis due to nervous system prosthetic devices, implants and grafts is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (T85.850).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T20The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T85
Includes
burns and corrosions of first degree [erythema]
burns and corrosions of second degree [blisters][epidermal loss]
burns and corrosions of third degree [deep necrosis of underlying tissue] [full- thickness skin loss]
Use additional code
code from category T31 or T32 to identify extent of body surface involved
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