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T33.521 vs T33.522

T33.521 (Superficial frostbite of right hand) compared with T33.522 (Superficial frostbite of left hand), from the official CMS tabular data. T33.521 and T33.522 code the same condition on opposite sides. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

T33.521
Right
Superficial frostbite of right hand
T33.522
Left
Superficial frostbite of left hand

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. T33.521 and T33.522 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

T33.521Superficial frostbite of right handT33.522Superficial frostbite of left hand
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: T33.521A, T33.521D, T33.521S

Non-billable header

Report instead: T33.522A, T33.522D, T33.522S

ClassificationS00-T88 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causesS00-T88 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
DefinitionSuperficial frostbite of right hand is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (T33.521).Superficial frostbite of left hand is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (T33.522).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T33The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T33
Includes
frostbite with partial thickness skin loss
frostbite with partial thickness skin loss

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