S40.25 ICD-10-CM Code: Superficial foreign body of shoulder

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for S40.25 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Notes without a marker are published on S40.25 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

7th Character Guide

"The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S40"

• A — initial encounter
• D — subsequent encounter
• S — sequela

How the encounter character is assigned. “Initial encounter” means the patient is receiving active treatment for the condition — it is not limited to the first visit, and a different or new provider giving active treatment still assigns it. “Subsequent encounter” covers care during the healing or recovery phase after active treatment. “Sequela” is for complications or conditions that arise as a direct result of the original condition.

ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, Section I.C.19.a (paraphrased by MedCoder).

Variant codes in this family

S40.251A, S40.251D, S40.251S, S40.252A, S40.252D, S40.252S, S40.259A, S40.259D

Character meanings are CMS's official 7th-character extensions for this family, as carried in each variant code's official description; variant codes are registry rows. The explanation of how the encounter character is assigned is MedCoder editorial, distinct from the official content above it.

Do Not Confuse With

Codes named in S40.25's own official notes, or sharing its encounter family, with what separates them. Each links to the full comparison.

• S40.251A— Encounter relationship (Review)

  Same underlying diagnosis, different encounter phase.

  The same diagnosis at a different phase of care; one encounter takes one 7th character.

  Full comparison: S40.25 vs S40.251A →

• S40.251D— Encounter relationship (Review)

  Same underlying diagnosis, different encounter phase.

  The same diagnosis at a different phase of care; one encounter takes one 7th character.

  Full comparison: S40.25 vs S40.251D →

• T20— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: S40.25 vs T20 →

• T32— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: S40.25 vs T32 →

• T33— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: S40.25 vs T33 →

• T34— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: S40.25 vs T34 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Verify Before Coding

• Not billable as written — a more specific code is required: S40.251A, S40.251D, S40.251S, S40.252A, S40.252D.
• Requires a 7th character. "The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S40" Options: S40.251A, S40.251D, S40.251S, S40.252A, S40.252D, S40.252S

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

Related Codes

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main term “Foreign body”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

S20.95 — Superficial foreign body of unspecified parts of thorax (superficial, without open wound, thorax, thoracic), S30.850 — Superficial foreign body of lower back and pelvis (superficial, without open wound, pelvis), S30.851 — Superficial foreign body of abdominal wall (superficial, without open wound, groin), S30.852 — Superficial foreign body of penis (superficial, without open wound, penis), S30.853 — Superficial foreign body of scrotum and testes (superficial, without open wound, testis), S30.854 — Superficial foreign body of vagina and vulva (superficial, without open wound, vulva), S30.855 — Superficial foreign body of unspecified external genital organs, male (superficial, without open wound, pudendum, male), S30.856 — Superficial foreign body of unspecified external genital organs, female (superficial, without open wound, pudendum, female), S30.857 — Superficial foreign body of anus (superficial, without open wound, anus), S30.85A — Superficial foreign body of flank (superficial, without open wound, flank), S50.35 — Superficial foreign body of elbow (superficial, without open wound, elbow), S50.85 — Superficial foreign body of forearm (superficial, without open wound, forearm), S60.35 — Superficial foreign body of thumb (superficial, without open wound, thumb), S60.45 — Superficial foreign body of fingers (superficial, without open wound, finger, ring), S60.459 — Superficial foreign body of unspecified finger (superficial, without open wound, finger), S60.55 — Superficial foreign body of hand (superficial, without open wound, hand), S60.85 — Superficial foreign body of wrist (superficial, without open wound, wrist), S70.25 — Superficial foreign body of hip (superficial, without open wound, hip), S70.35 — Superficial foreign body of thigh (superficial, without open wound, thigh), S80.25 — Superficial foreign body of knee (superficial, without open wound, knee), +178 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of S40.25 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]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (40)

• S40 — Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S40.222A — Blister (nonthermal) of left shoulder, initial encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S40.222D — Blister (nonthermal) of left shoulder, subsequent encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S40.222S — Blister (nonthermal) of left shoulder, sequela[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S40.229 — Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified shoulder[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S40.229A — Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified shoulder, initial encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S40.229D — Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified shoulder, subsequent encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S40.229S — Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified shoulder, sequela[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 32 more

Change history

• FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Common coding questions

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data

CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data

CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship

Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears

Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation

Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S40.25 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• S40.242S — External constriction of left shoulder, sequela
• S40.249 — External constriction of unspecified shoulder
• S40.249A — External constriction of unspecified shoulder, initial encounter
• S40.249D — External constriction of unspecified shoulder, subsequent encounter
• S40.249S — External constriction of unspecified shoulder, sequela
• S40.251 — Superficial foreign body of right shoulder
• S40.251A — Superficial foreign body of right shoulder, initial encounter
• S40.251D — Superficial foreign body of right shoulder, subsequent encounter
• S40.251S — Superficial foreign body of right shoulder, sequela
• S40.252 — Superficial foreign body of left shoulder

View all codes in the S40 family