S00.40 ICD-10-CM Code: Unspecified superficial injury of ear
Billing Status: NO. This is a clinician non-billable / parent hierarchy grouping in the ICD-10-CM system.
Official Registry Overview & Definition
Official Tabular Instructional Notes
Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S00.40 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.
Includes
Conditions the official ICD-10-CM tabular list includes under this code.
- injuries of ear
- injuries of eye
- injuries of face [any part]
- injuries of gum
- injuries of jaw
- injuries of oral cavity
- injuries of palate
- injuries of periocular area
- injuries of scalp
- injuries of temporomandibular joint area
- injuries of tongue
- injuries of tooth
Excludes1 — Not Coded Here
Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
- diffuse cerebral contusion (S06.2-) Compare S00.40 vs S06.2 →
- focal cerebral contusion (S06.3-) Compare S00.40 vs S06.3 →
- injury of eye and orbit (S05.-) Compare S00.40 vs S05 →
- open wound of head (S01.-) Compare S00.40 vs S01 →
Excludes2 — Not Included Here
Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.
- burns and corrosions (T20-T32) Compare S00.40 vs T20 →
- effects of foreign body in ear (T16) Compare S00.40 vs T16 →
- effects of foreign body in larynx (T17.3) Compare S00.40 vs T17.3 →
- effects of foreign body in mouth NOS (T18.0) Compare S00.40 vs T18.0 →
- effects of foreign body in nose (T17.0-T17.1) Compare S00.40 vs T17.0 →
- effects of foreign body in pharynx (T17.2) Compare S00.40 vs T17.2 →
- effects of foreign body on external eye (T15.-) Compare S00.40 vs T15 →
- frostbite (T33-T34) Compare S00.40 vs T33 →
- insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4) Compare S00.40 vs T63.4 →
Code Also
Additional codes that may be required to fully describe the encounter.
- for any associated infection
Frequently Compared Codes
The official Excludes notes on S00.40 name these codes. Each comparison page covers when the two can — or must not — be reported together.
Change history
No changes recorded for this code — unchanged since the FY2016 baseline of the change ledger.
Verify Before Coding
- Not billable as written — a more specific code is required: S00.401A, S00.401D, S00.401S, S00.402A, S00.402D.
- Requires a 7th character. "The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S00" Options: S00.401A, S00.401D, S00.401S, S00.402A, S00.402D, S00.402S
From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim.
Relationships & Classification
Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes on other codes that name S00.40 or its code family.
1 Excludes2 notes: S09.3 (via S00.4.-).
1 Code First instructions: R65.1 (via S00.-).
1 Code Also instructions: G96.00 (via S00.-).
Contextual Map
Every relationship of S00.40 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.
Hierarchy
- S00-T88 — Chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88) (S00-T88) [Hierarchy]
Referenced by Excludes2 notes
- S09.3 — Other specified and unspecified injury of middle and inner ear [Excludes2](via S00.4.-): “injury to external ear (S00.4-, S01.3-, S08.1-)” · check together
Referenced by Code First instructions
- R65.1 — Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) of non-infectious origin [Code First](via S00.-): “injury and trauma (S00-T88)” · check together
Referenced by Code Also instructions
- G96.00 — Cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified [Code Also](via S00.-): “head injury (S00-S09)” · check together
Nearest codes (40)
- S00 — Superficial injury of head [Sibling]
- S00.33XA — Contusion of nose, initial encounter [Sibling]
- S00.33XD — Contusion of nose, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
- S00.33XS — Contusion of nose, sequela [Sibling]
- S00.34 — External constriction of nose [Sibling]
- S00.34XA — External constriction of nose, initial encounter [Sibling]
- S00.34XD — External constriction of nose, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
- S00.34XS — External constriction of nose, sequela [Sibling]
- and 32 more
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
Can S00.40 be billed directly?
No. S00.40 (Unspecified superficial injury of ear) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.
Does S00.40 require a 7th character?
Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S00.
Nearest Codes in This Family
Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S00.40 in its code family, with their registry titles.
- S00.37 — Other superficial bite of nose
- S00.37XA — Other superficial bite of nose, initial encounter
- S00.37XD — Other superficial bite of nose, subsequent encounter
- S00.37XS — Other superficial bite of nose, sequela
- S00.4 — Superficial injury of ear
- S00.401 — Unspecified superficial injury of right ear
- S00.401A — Unspecified superficial injury of right ear, initial encounter
- S00.401D — Unspecified superficial injury of right ear, subsequent encounter
- S00.401S — Unspecified superficial injury of right ear, sequela
- S00.402 — Unspecified superficial injury of left ear