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S02.109 ICD-10-CM Code: Fracture of base of skull, unspecified side

Billing Status: NO. This is a clinician non-billable / parent hierarchy grouping in the ICD-10-CM system.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Fracture of base of skull, unspecified side is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S02.109). A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission.

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S02.109 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

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

Code Also

Additional codes that may be required to fully describe the encounter.

  • any associated intracranial injury (S06.-)
  • for any associated infection

Frequently Compared Codes

The official Excludes notes on S02.109 name these codes. Each comparison page covers when the two can — or must not — be reported together.

Change history

  • FY2017 — 2016-10-01
    Added to the code set
    Fracture of base of skull, unspecified side
    FY2017 changes

Verify Before Coding

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 S02.109 or its code family.

1 Excludes1 notes: S01 (via S02.-).

2 Excludes2 notes: S02.3 (via S02.1.-), S05 (via S02.1.-).

1 Code First instructions: R40.2 (via S02.-).

1 Use Additional Code instructions: S07 (via S02.-).

2 Code Also instructions: S04 (via S02.-), S06 (via S02.-).

Contextual Map

Every relationship of S02.109 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]
  • S00-S09 — Injuries to the head [Hierarchy]

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

  • S01 — Open wound of head [Excludes1](via S02.-): “open skull fracture (S02.- with 7th character B)” · check together

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

  • S02.3 — Fracture of orbital floor [Excludes2](via S02.1.-): “orbital roof (S02.1-)” · check together
  • S05 — Injury of eye and orbit [Excludes2](via S02.1.-): “orbital bone fracture (S02.1-, S02.3-, S02.8-)” · check together

Referenced by Code First instructions

Referenced by Use Additional Code instructions

  • S07 — Crushing injury of head [Use Additional Code](via S02.-): “skull fractures (S02.-)” · check together

Referenced by Code Also instructions

  • S04 — Injury of cranial nerve [Code Also](via S02.-): “skull fracture (S02.-)” · check together
  • S06 — Intracranial injury [Code Also](via S02.-): “skull fracture (S02.-)” · check together

Nearest codes (40)

  • S02 — Fracture of skull and facial bones [Sibling]
  • S02.0XXD — Fracture of vault of skull, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing [Sibling]
  • S02.0XXG — Fracture of vault of skull, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing [Sibling]
  • S02.0XXK — Fracture of vault of skull, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion [Sibling]
  • S02.0XXS — Fracture of vault of skull, sequela [Sibling]
  • S02.1 — Fracture of base of skull [Sibling]
  • S02.10 — Unspecified fracture of base of skull [Sibling]
  • S02.101 — Fracture of base of skull, right side [Sibling]
  • and 32 more

Change history

  • FY2017 — Added to the code set [Change history]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance

Can S02.109 be billed directly?

No. S02.109 (Fracture of base of skull, unspecified side) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.

Does S02.109 require a 7th character?

Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S02.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S02.109 in its code family, with their registry titles.

  • S02.102B — Fracture of base of skull, left side, initial encounter for open fracture
  • S02.102D — Fracture of base of skull, left side, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
  • S02.102G — Fracture of base of skull, left side, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
  • S02.102K — Fracture of base of skull, left side, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
  • S02.102S — Fracture of base of skull, left side, sequela
  • S02.109A — Fracture of base of skull, unspecified side, initial encounter for closed fracture
  • S02.109B — Fracture of base of skull, unspecified side, initial encounter for open fracture
  • S02.109D — Fracture of base of skull, unspecified side, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
  • S02.109G — Fracture of base of skull, unspecified side, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
  • S02.109K — Fracture of base of skull, unspecified side, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion

View all codes in the S02 family