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S41.15 ICD-10-CM Code: Open bite of upper arm

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

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Open bite of upper arm is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S41.15). A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission.

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S41.15 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

Includes

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

  • injuries of axilla
  • injuries of scapular region

Inclusion Terms

Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.

  • Bite of upper arm NOS

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 wound infection

Frequently Compared Codes

The official Excludes notes on S41.15 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

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 S41.15 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.

3 Code Also instructions: S44 (via S41.-), S45 (via S41.-), S46 (via S41.-).

Contextual Map

Every relationship of S41.15 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]

Excludes1

  • S40.87 — Other superficial bite of upper arm [Excludes1]: “superficial bite of upper arm (S40.87)” · check together

Referenced by Code Also instructions

  • S44 — Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level [Code Also](via S41.-): “any associated open wound (S41.-)” · check together
  • S45 — Injury of blood vessels at shoulder and upper arm level [Code Also](via S41.-): “any associated open wound (S41.-)” · check together
  • S46 — Injury of muscle, fascia and tendon at shoulder and upper arm level [Code Also](via S41.-): “any associated open wound (S41.-)” · check together

Nearest codes (40)

  • S41 — Open wound of shoulder and upper arm [Sibling]
  • S41.129D — Laceration with foreign body of unspecified upper arm, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
  • S41.129S — Laceration with foreign body of unspecified upper arm, sequela [Sibling]
  • S41.13 — Puncture wound without foreign body of upper arm [Sibling]
  • S41.131 — Puncture wound without foreign body of right upper arm [Sibling]
  • S41.131A — Puncture wound without foreign body of right upper arm, initial encounter [Sibling]
  • S41.131D — Puncture wound without foreign body of right upper arm, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
  • S41.131S — Puncture wound without foreign body of right upper arm, sequela [Sibling]
  • and 32 more

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance

Can S41.15 be billed directly?

No. S41.15 (Open bite of upper arm) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.

Does S41.15 require a 7th character?

Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S41.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S41.15 in its code family, with their registry titles.

  • S41.142S — Puncture wound with foreign body of left upper arm, sequela
  • S41.149 — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified upper arm
  • S41.149A — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified upper arm, initial encounter
  • S41.149D — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified upper arm, subsequent encounter
  • S41.149S — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified upper arm, sequela
  • S41.151 — Open bite of right upper arm
  • S41.151A — Open bite of right upper arm, initial encounter
  • S41.151D — Open bite of right upper arm, subsequent encounter
  • S41.151S — Open bite of right upper arm, sequela
  • S41.152 — Open bite of left upper arm

View all codes in the S41 family