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S21.94XA ICD-10-CM Code: Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified part of thorax, initial encounter

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43.0, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 913 — TRAUMATIC INJURY WITH MCC (MDC 21)
  • MS-DRG 914 — TRAUMATIC INJURY WITHOUT MCC (MDC 21)
  • MS-DRG 963 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH MCC (MDC 24)
  • MS-DRG 964 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH CC (MDC 24)
  • MS-DRG 965 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 24)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified part of thorax, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S21.94A).

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S21.94XA 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 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 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 Compared Codes

The official Excludes notes on S21.94XA 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

  • CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

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 S21.94XA or its code family.

6 Code Also instructions: S23.1 (via S21.-), S24 (via S21.-), S25 (via S21.-), S26 (via S21.-), S27 (via S21.-), S29 (via S21.-).

Potential MS-DRG Relationships (FY2026)

CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 95 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 5 MS-DRGs: DRG 913 (MDC 21), DRG 914 (MDC 21), DRG 963 (MDC 24), DRG 964 (MDC 24), DRG 965 (MDC 24).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):INJ013 — Open wounds of trunk, initial encounter (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Contextual Map

Every relationship of S21.94XA 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]
  • S20-S29 — Injuries to the thorax [Hierarchy]

Referenced by Code Also instructions

  • S23.1 — Subluxation and dislocation of thoracic vertebra [Code Also](via S21.-): “open wound of thorax (S21.-)” · check together
  • S24 — Injury of nerves and spinal cord at thorax level [Code Also](via S21.-): “open wound of thorax (S21.-)” · check together
  • S25 — Injury of blood vessels of thorax [Code Also](via S21.-): “any associated open wound (S21.-)” · check together
  • S26 — Injury of heart [Code Also](via S21.-): “open wound of thorax (S21.-)” · check together
  • S27 — Injury of other and unspecified intrathoracic organs [Code Also](via S21.-): “any associated open wound of thorax (S21.-)” · check together
  • S29 — Other and unspecified injuries of thorax [Code Also](via S21.-): “any associated open wound (S21.-)” · check together

Clinical classification (CCSR)

  • INJ013 — Open wounds of trunk, initial encounter [CCSR]

Potential MS-DRG

  • CC — Complication or Comorbidity [MS-DRG severity]: “As a secondary diagnosis this code can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier (CC).”
  • DRG 913 — TRAUMATIC INJURY WITH MCC [MS-DRG]: “TRAUMATIC INJURY WITH MCC (MDC 21)”
  • DRG 914 — TRAUMATIC INJURY WITHOUT MCC [MS-DRG]: “TRAUMATIC INJURY WITHOUT MCC (MDC 21)”
  • DRG 963 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH MCC [MS-DRG]: “OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH MCC (MDC 24)”
  • DRG 964 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH CC [MS-DRG]: “OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH CC (MDC 24)”
  • DRG 965 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITHOUT CC/MCC [MS-DRG]: “OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 24)”

MDC crossing · procedures (54986)

  • MDC 21 — Injuries, Poisonings and Toxic Effects of Drugs [MDC crossing]: “Injuries, Poisonings and Toxic Effects of Drugs — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs.”
  • MDC 24 — Multiple Significant Trauma [MDC crossing]: “Multiple Significant Trauma — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs.”
  • 0016070 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Nasopharynx with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Nasopharynx with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016071 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Mastoid Sinus with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Mastoid Sinus with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016072 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Atrium with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Atrium with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016073 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Blood Vessel with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Blood Vessel with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016074 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Pleural Cavity with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Pleural Cavity with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 21, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • and 54981 more

Nearest codes (40)

  • S21 — Open wound of thorax [Sibling]
  • S21.449A — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity, initial encounter [Sibling]
  • S21.449D — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
  • S21.449S — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity, sequela [Sibling]
  • S21.45 — Open bite of back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity [Sibling]
  • S21.451 — Open bite of right back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity [Sibling]
  • S21.451A — Open bite of right back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity, initial encounter [Sibling]
  • S21.451D — Open bite of right back wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
  • and 32 more

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance

Does S21.94XA require a 7th character?

Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S21.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S21.94XA in its code family, with their registry titles.

  • S21.93 — Puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified part of thorax
  • S21.93XA — Puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified part of thorax, initial encounter
  • S21.93XD — Puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified part of thorax, subsequent encounter
  • S21.93XS — Puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified part of thorax, sequela
  • S21.94 — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified part of thorax
  • S21.94XD — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified part of thorax, subsequent encounter
  • S21.94XS — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified part of thorax, sequela
  • S21.95 — Open bite of unspecified part of thorax
  • S21.95XA — Open bite of unspecified part of thorax, initial encounter
  • S21.95XD — Open bite of unspecified part of thorax, subsequent encounter

View all codes in the S21 family