S51.85 ICD-10-CM Code: Open bite of forearm
Billing Status: NO. This is a clinician non-billable / parent hierarchy grouping in the ICD-10-CM system.
Official Registry Overview & Definition
Official Tabular Instructional Notes
Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S51.85 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.
Inclusion Terms
Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.
- Bite of forearm 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).
- superficial bite of forearm (S50.86, S50.87) Compare S51.85 vs S50.86 →
- open fracture of elbow and forearm (S52.- with open fracture 7th character) Compare S51.85 vs S52 →
- traumatic amputation of elbow and forearm (S58.-) Compare S51.85 vs S58 →
Excludes2 — Not Included Here
Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.
- open wound of elbow (S51.0-) Compare S51.85 vs S51.0 →
- open wound of wrist and hand (S61.-) Compare S51.85 vs S61 →
- burns and corrosions (T20-T32) Compare S51.85 vs T20 →
- frostbite (T33-T34) Compare S51.85 vs T33 →
- injuries of wrist and hand (S60-S69) Compare S51.85 vs S60 →
- insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4) Compare S51.85 vs T63.4 →
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 S51.85 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
- Not billable as written — a more specific code is required: S51.851A, S51.851D, S51.851S, S51.852A, S51.852D.
- Requires a 7th character. "The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S51" Options: S51.851A, S51.851D, S51.851S, S51.852A, S51.852D, S51.852S
From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim.
Contextual Map
Every relationship of S51.85 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
- S50.86 — Insect bite (nonvenomous) of forearm [Excludes1]: “superficial bite of forearm (S50.86, S50.87)” · check together
- S50.87 — Other superficial bite of forearm [Excludes1]: “superficial bite of forearm (S50.86, S50.87)” · check together
Referenced by Code Also instructions
- S54 — Injury of nerves at forearm level [Code Also](via S51.-): “any associated open wound (S51.-)” · check together
- S55 — Injury of blood vessels at forearm level [Code Also](via S51.-): “any associated open wound (S51.-)” · check together
- S56 — Injury of muscle, fascia and tendon at forearm level [Code Also](via S51.-): “any associated open wound (S51.-)” · check together
Nearest codes (40)
- S51 — Open wound of elbow and forearm [Sibling]
- S51.829D — Laceration with foreign body of unspecified forearm, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
- S51.829S — Laceration with foreign body of unspecified forearm, sequela [Sibling]
- S51.83 — Puncture wound without foreign body of forearm [Sibling]
- S51.831 — Puncture wound without foreign body of right forearm [Sibling]
- S51.831A — Puncture wound without foreign body of right forearm, initial encounter [Sibling]
- S51.831D — Puncture wound without foreign body of right forearm, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
- S51.831S — Puncture wound without foreign body of right forearm, sequela [Sibling]
- and 32 more
Referenced by Other Codes
Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes on other codes that name S51.85 or its code family.
3 Code Also instructions: S54 (via S51.-), S55 (via S51.-), S56 (via S51.-).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
Can S51.85 be billed directly?
No. S51.85 (Open bite of forearm) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.
Does S51.85 require a 7th character?
Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S51.
Nearest Codes in This Family
Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S51.85 in its code family, with their registry titles.
- S51.842S — Puncture wound with foreign body of left forearm, sequela
- S51.849 — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified forearm
- S51.849A — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified forearm, initial encounter
- S51.849D — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.849S — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified forearm, sequela
- S51.851 — Open bite of right forearm
- S51.851A — Open bite of right forearm, initial encounter
- S51.851D — Open bite of right forearm, subsequent encounter
- S51.851S — Open bite of right forearm, sequela
- S51.852 — Open bite of left forearm