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T81.328A vs T81.328S

T81.328A (Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, initial encounter) compared with T81.328S (Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, sequela), from the official CMS tabular data. T81.328A and T81.328S code the same injury at a different phase of treatment.

Relationship

Review

Encounter relationship

T81.328A
Initial encounter
Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, initial encounter
↔
T81.328S
Sequela
Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, sequela

Same underlying diagnosis, different encounter phase.

The 7th character records the phase of care for the encounter being coded, so a single encounter takes one of these characters, not several. Review whether both phases belong on the same episode of care.

Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.C.19.a

Can these codes be reported together?

Same injury, other encounter phase. T81.328A and T81.328S code the same injury at a different phase of treatment, set by the 7th character.

The 7th character records the type of care given at the encounter being coded (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.C.19.a), so one encounter takes one of these, not both.

Side by side

T81.328ADisruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, initial encounterT81.328SDisruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, sequela
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)
DefinitionDisruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (T81.328A).Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, sequela is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (T81.328S).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81
Includes
Disruption or dehiscence of closure of muscle or muscle flap (other than abdominal wall muscle)
Disruption or dehiscence of closure of ribs or rib cage
Disruption or dehiscence of closure of skull or craniotomy
Disruption or dehiscence of closure of sternum or sternotomy
Disruption or dehiscence of closure of muscle or muscle flap (other than abdominal wall muscle)
Disruption or dehiscence of closure of ribs or rib cage
Disruption or dehiscence of closure of skull or craniotomy
Disruption or dehiscence of closure of sternum or sternotomy
Use additional code
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)
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)
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Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources