S21.31 is the authoritative medical code for Laceration without foreign body of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity. This classification is used in medical billing and clinical recording to specify the clinical criteria for laceration without foreign body of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity (ICD-10-CM S21.31), ensuring healthcare documentation aligns with 2026 federal coding standards.
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 front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code S21.31. A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission. Includes: injuries of breast; injuries of chest wall; injuries of interscapular area. Excludes1 (not coded here): traumatic amputation partial of thorax S28.1. Excludes2 (not included here): burns and corrosions T20-T32; effects of foreign body in bronchus T17.5; effects of foreign body in esophagus T18.1; effects of foreign body in lung T17.8; effects of foreign body in trachea T17.4; frostbite T33-T34; injuries of axilla; injuries of clavicle; injuries of scapular region; injuries of shoulder; insect bite or sting, venomous T63.4. Code also: any associated injury, such as:; injury of heart S26.-; injury of intrathoracic organs S27.-; rib fracture (S22.3-, S22.4-); spinal cord injury (S24.0-, S24.1-); traumatic hemopneumothorax S27.3; traumatic hemothorax S27.1; traumatic pneumothorax S27.0; wound infection. 7th character: The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S21.
Official Tabular Instructional Notes
Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S21.31 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.
Includes
Conditions the official ICD-10-CM tabular list includes under this code.
- injuries of breast
- injuries of chest wall
- injuries of interscapular area
Excludes1 — Not Coded Here
Conditions that can never be reported with this code; the two are mutually exclusive.
- traumatic amputation partial of thorax S28.1
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
- effects of foreign body in bronchus T17.5
- effects of foreign body in esophagus T18.1
- effects of foreign body in lung T17.8
- effects of foreign body in trachea T17.4
- frostbite T33-T34
- injuries of axilla
- injuries of clavicle
- injuries of scapular region
- injuries of shoulder
- insect bite or sting, venomous T63.4
Code Also
Additional codes that may be required to fully describe the encounter.
- any associated injury, such as:
- injury of heart S26.-
- injury of intrathoracic organs S27.-
- rib fracture (S22.3-, S22.4-)
- spinal cord injury (S24.0-, S24.1-)
- traumatic hemopneumothorax S27.3
- traumatic hemothorax S27.1
- traumatic pneumothorax S27.0
- wound infection
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
Can S21.31 be billed directly?
No. S21.31 (Laceration without foreign body of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.
Does S21.31 require a 7th character?
Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S21.
What can't be coded together with S21.31?
Per official ICD-10-CM Excludes1 instructions, S21.31 must not be reported together with: traumatic amputation (partial) of thorax (S28.1).
Can S21.31 be reported alongside related conditions?
Per official ICD-10-CM Excludes2 instructions, S21.31 and the following are not considered part of each other and may both be reported when both conditions are present: burns and corrosions (T20-T32); effects of foreign body in bronchus (T17.5); effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1); effects of foreign body in lung (T17.8).
Nearest Codes in This Family
Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S21.31 in its code family, with their registry titles.
- S21 — Open wound of thorax
- S21.0 — Open wound of breast
- S21.00 — Unspecified open wound of breast
- S21.001 — Unspecified open wound of right breast
- S21.001A — Unspecified open wound of right breast, initial encounter
- S21.001D — Unspecified open wound of right breast, subsequent encounter
- S21.001S — Unspecified open wound of right breast, sequela
- S21.002 — Unspecified open wound of left breast
- S21.002A — Unspecified open wound of left breast, initial encounter
- S21.002D — Unspecified open wound of left breast, subsequent encounter
View all 40 codes in the S21 family