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S11.21 ICD-10-CM Code: Laceration without foreign body of pharynx and cervical esophagus

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

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Laceration without foreign body of pharynx and cervical esophagus is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S11.21). A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission.

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S11.21 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

Includes

Conditions the official ICD-10-CM tabular list includes under this code.

  • injuries of nape
  • injuries of supraclavicular region
  • injuries of throat

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).

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:
  • spinal cord injury (S14.0, S14.1-)
  • wound infection

Indexed Clinical Terms (3)

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code.

  • Laceration, esophagus, traumatic, cervical
  • Laceration, neck, involving, cervical esophagus
  • Laceration, pharynx

Frequently Compared Codes

The official Excludes notes on S11.21 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.
  • Requires a 7th character. "The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S11" Options: S11.21XA, S11.21XD, S11.21XS

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim.

Relationships & Classification

Other codes that name S11.21 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

2 Use Additional Code instructions: S17 (via S11.-), T71.16 (via S11.-).

4 Code Also instructions: S13.1 (via S11.-), S14 (via S11.-), S15 (via S11.-), S16 (via S11.-).

Contextual Map

Every relationship of S11.21 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 Use Additional Code instructions

  • S17 — Crushing injury of neck [Use Additional Code](via S11.-): “open wound of neck (S11.-)” · check together
  • T71.16 — Asphyxiation due to hanging [Use Additional Code](via S11.-): “open wound of neck (S11.-)” · check together

Referenced by Code Also instructions

  • S13.1 — Subluxation and dislocation of cervical vertebrae [Code Also](via S11.-): “open wound of neck (S11.-)” · check together
  • S14 — Injury of nerves and spinal cord at neck level [Code Also](via S11.-): “open wound of neck (S11.-)” · check together
  • S15 — Injury of blood vessels at neck level [Code Also](via S11.-): “any associated open wound (S11.-)” · check together
  • S16 — Injury of muscle, fascia and tendon at neck level [Code Also](via S11.-): “any associated open wound (S11.-)” · check together

Index entries

  • Laceration, esophagus, traumatic, cervical[Index term]
  • Laceration, neck, involving, cervical esophagus[Index term]
  • Laceration, pharynx[Index term]

Nearest codes (40)

  • S11 — Open wound of neck [Sibling]
  • S11.12XA — Laceration with foreign body of thyroid gland, initial encounter [Sibling]
  • S11.12XD — Laceration with foreign body of thyroid gland, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
  • S11.12XS — Laceration with foreign body of thyroid gland, sequela [Sibling]
  • S11.13 — Puncture wound without foreign body of thyroid gland [Sibling]
  • S11.13XA — Puncture wound without foreign body of thyroid gland, initial encounter [Sibling]
  • S11.13XD — Puncture wound without foreign body of thyroid gland, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
  • S11.13XS — Puncture wound without foreign body of thyroid gland, sequela [Sibling]
  • and 32 more

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance

Can S11.21 be billed directly?

No. S11.21 (Laceration without foreign body of pharynx and cervical esophagus) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.

Does S11.21 require a 7th character?

Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S11.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S11.21 in its code family, with their registry titles.

  • S11.2 — Open wound of pharynx and cervical esophagus
  • S11.20 — Unspecified open wound of pharynx and cervical esophagus
  • S11.20XA — Unspecified open wound of pharynx and cervical esophagus, initial encounter
  • S11.20XD — Unspecified open wound of pharynx and cervical esophagus, subsequent encounter
  • S11.20XS — Unspecified open wound of pharynx and cervical esophagus, sequela
  • S11.21XA — Laceration without foreign body of pharynx and cervical esophagus, initial encounter
  • S11.21XD — Laceration without foreign body of pharynx and cervical esophagus, subsequent encounter
  • S11.21XS — Laceration without foreign body of pharynx and cervical esophagus, sequela
  • S11.22 — Laceration with foreign body of pharynx and cervical esophagus
  • S11.22XA — Laceration with foreign body of pharynx and cervical esophagus, initial encounter

View all codes in the S11 family