S45.31 ICD-10-CM Code: Laceration of superficial vein at shoulder and upper arm level

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for S45.31 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Notes without a marker are published on S45.31 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 S45"

• 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

S45.311A, S45.311D, S45.311S, S45.312A, S45.312D, S45.312S, S45.319A, S45.319D

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 S45.31's own official notes, or sharing its encounter family, with what separates them. Each links to the full comparison.

• S45.30— Specificity relationship (Review)

  Overlapping diagnoses in the same category.

  Overlapping codes in the same category — the documentation decides which is the more specific fit.

  Full comparison: S45.31 vs S45.30 →

• S45.311A— 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: S45.31 vs S45.311A →

• S45.311D— 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: S45.31 vs S45.311D →

• S25.1— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

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

  Full comparison: S45.31 vs S25.1 →

• S25.3— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

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

  Full comparison: S45.31 vs S25.3 →

• T20— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

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

  Full comparison: S45.31 vs T20 →

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.

Decision Points

The directives on this code's own record, as a pre-claim checklist.

1. A 7th character applies in this family. Confirm the documented encounter matches the character assigned. See the official 7th-character definitions and this code’s variants
2. 1 Code Also note — a second code may apply; the guidelines leave its sequencing to the circumstances of the encounter. See the Code Also notes
3. 6 Excludes2 entries — those conditions are not part of this code and may be reported additionally when documented. See the Excludes2 notes

Checklist rows are derived from this code's own official directives; the wording of each check is MedCoder editorial. The official notes themselves are in the sections each row links to.

Verify Before Coding

• Not billable as written — a more specific code is required: S45.311A, S45.311D, S45.311S, S45.312A, S45.312D.
• Requires a 7th character. "The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S45" Options: S45.311A, S45.311D, S45.311S, S45.312A, S45.312D, S45.312S

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

Relationships & Classification

Other codes that name S45.31 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.

Referenced by 1 Excludes2 note: S55 — Injury of blood vessels at forearm level (via S45.-).

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

Contextual Map

Every relationship of S45.31 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.

Run S45.31 with this related code in Claim Check

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

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

• S55 — Injury of blood vessels at forearm level[Excludes2](via S45.-): “injury of brachial vessels (S45.1-S45.2)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (40)

• S45 — Injury of blood vessels at shoulder and upper arm level[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S45.292D — Other specified injury of axillary or brachial vein, left side, subsequent encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S45.292S — Other specified injury of axillary or brachial vein, left side, sequela[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S45.299 — Other specified injury of axillary or brachial vein, unspecified side[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S45.299A — Other specified injury of axillary or brachial vein, unspecified side, initial encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S45.299D — Other specified injury of axillary or brachial vein, unspecified side, subsequent encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S45.299S — Other specified injury of axillary or brachial vein, unspecified side, sequela[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S45.3 — Injury of superficial vein at shoulder and upper arm level[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 S45.31 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• S45.302S — Unspecified injury of superficial vein at shoulder and upper arm level, left arm, sequela
• S45.309 — Unspecified injury of superficial vein at shoulder and upper arm level, unspecified arm
• S45.309A — Unspecified injury of superficial vein at shoulder and upper arm level, unspecified arm, initial encounter
• S45.309D — Unspecified injury of superficial vein at shoulder and upper arm level, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter
• S45.309S — Unspecified injury of superficial vein at shoulder and upper arm level, unspecified arm, sequela
• S45.311 — Laceration of superficial vein at shoulder and upper arm level, right arm
• S45.311A — Laceration of superficial vein at shoulder and upper arm level, right arm, initial encounter
• S45.311D — Laceration of superficial vein at shoulder and upper arm level, right arm, subsequent encounter
• S45.311S — Laceration of superficial vein at shoulder and upper arm level, right arm, sequela
• S45.312 — Laceration of superficial vein at shoulder and upper arm level, left arm

View all codes in the S45 family