S55.81 is the authoritative medical code for Laceration of other blood vessels at forearm level. This classification is used in medical billing and clinical recording to specify the clinical criteria for laceration of other blood vessels at forearm level (ICD-10-CM S55.81), ensuring healthcare documentation aligns with 2026 federal coding standards.
Billing Status: NO. This is a clinician non-billable / parent hierarchy grouping in the ICD-10-CM system.
Official Registry Overview & Definition
Laceration of other blood vessels at forearm level is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code S55.81. A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission. Excludes2 (not included here): injury of blood vessels at wrist and hand level S65.-; injury of brachial vessels S45.1-S45.2; burns and corrosions T20-T32; frostbite T33-T34; injuries of wrist and hand S60-S69; insect bite or sting, venomous T63.4. Code also: any associated open wound S51.-. 7th character: The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S55.
Official Tabular Instructional Notes
Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S55.81 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.
Excludes2 — Not Included Here
Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.
- injury of blood vessels at wrist and hand level S65.-
- injury of brachial vessels S45.1-S45.2
- burns and corrosions T20-T32
- frostbite T33-T34
- injuries of wrist and hand S60-S69
- insect bite or sting, venomous T63.4
Code Also
Additional codes that may be required to fully describe the encounter.
- any associated open wound S51.-
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
Can S55.81 be billed directly?
No. S55.81 (Laceration of other blood vessels at forearm level) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.
Does S55.81 require a 7th character?
Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S55.
Can S55.81 be reported alongside related conditions?
Per official ICD-10-CM Excludes2 instructions, S55.81 and the following are not considered part of each other and may both be reported when both conditions are present: injury of blood vessels at wrist and hand level (S65.-); injury of brachial vessels (S45.1-S45.2); burns and corrosions (T20-T32); frostbite (T33-T34).
Nearest Codes in This Family
Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S55.81 in its code family, with their registry titles.
- S55 — Injury of blood vessels at forearm level
- S55.0 — Injury of ulnar artery at forearm level
- S55.00 — Unspecified injury of ulnar artery at forearm level
- S55.001 — Unspecified injury of ulnar artery at forearm level, right arm
- S55.001A — Unspecified injury of ulnar artery at forearm level, right arm, initial encounter
- S55.001D — Unspecified injury of ulnar artery at forearm level, right arm, subsequent encounter
- S55.001S — Unspecified injury of ulnar artery at forearm level, right arm, sequela
- S55.002 — Unspecified injury of ulnar artery at forearm level, left arm
- S55.002A — Unspecified injury of ulnar artery at forearm level, left arm, initial encounter
- S55.002D — Unspecified injury of ulnar artery at forearm level, left arm, subsequent encounter
View all 40 codes in the S55 family