S61.55 ICD-10-CM Code: Open bite of wrist
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 S61.55 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.
Inclusion Terms
Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.
- Bite of wrist 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 wrist (S60.86-, S60.87-) Compare S61.55 vs S60.86 →
- open fracture of wrist, hand and finger (S62.- with 7th character B) Compare S61.55 vs S62 →
- traumatic amputation of wrist and hand (S68.-) Compare S61.55 vs S68 →
Excludes2 — Not Included Here
Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.
- burns and corrosions (T20-T32) Compare S61.55 vs T20 →
- frostbite (T33-T34) Compare S61.55 vs T33 →
- insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4) Compare S61.55 vs T63.4 →
Code Also
Additional codes that may be required to fully describe the encounter.
- any associated wound infection
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: S61.551A, S61.551D, S61.551S, S61.552A, S61.552D.
- Requires a 7th character. "The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S61" Options: S61.551A, S61.551D, S61.551S, S61.552A, S61.552D, S61.552S
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 S61.55 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
- S60.86 — Insect bite (nonvenomous) of wrist [Excludes1]: “superficial bite of wrist (S60.86-, S60.87-)”
- S60.87 — Other superficial bite of wrist [Excludes1]: “superficial bite of wrist (S60.86-, S60.87-)”
Referenced by Excludes1 notes
- S60.87 — Other superficial bite of wrist [Excludes1]: “open bite of wrist (S61.55)”
Referenced by Excludes2 notes
- S51 — Open wound of elbow and forearm [Excludes2](via S61.-): “open wound of wrist and hand (S61.-)”
Referenced by Use Additional Code instructions
- S67 — Crushing injury of wrist, hand and fingers [Use Additional Code](via S61.-): “open wound of wrist and hand (S61.-)”
Referenced by Code Also instructions
- S64 — Injury of nerves at wrist and hand level [Code Also](via S61.-): “any associated open wound (S61.-)”
- S65 — Injury of blood vessels at wrist and hand level [Code Also](via S61.-): “any associated open wound (S61.-)”
- S66 — Injury of muscle, fascia and tendon at wrist and hand level [Code Also](via S61.-): “any associated open wound (S61.-)”
Nearest codes (40)
- S61 — Open wound of wrist, hand and fingers [Sibling]
- S61.529D — Laceration with foreign body of unspecified wrist, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
- S61.529S — Laceration with foreign body of unspecified wrist, sequela [Sibling]
- S61.53 — Puncture wound without foreign body of wrist [Sibling]
- S61.531 — Puncture wound without foreign body of right wrist [Sibling]
- S61.531A — Puncture wound without foreign body of right wrist, initial encounter [Sibling]
- S61.531D — Puncture wound without foreign body of right wrist, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
- S61.531S — Puncture wound without foreign body of right wrist, sequela [Sibling]
- and 32 more
Referenced by Other Codes
Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes on other codes that name S61.55 or its code family.
1 Excludes1 notes: S60.87.
1 Excludes2 notes: S51 (via S61.-).
1 Use Additional Code instructions: S67 (via S61.-).
3 Code Also instructions: S64 (via S61.-), S65 (via S61.-), S66 (via S61.-).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
Can S61.55 be billed directly?
No. S61.55 (Open bite of wrist) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.
Does S61.55 require a 7th character?
Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S61.
Nearest Codes in This Family
Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S61.55 in its code family, with their registry titles.
- S61.542S — Puncture wound with foreign body of left wrist, sequela
- S61.549 — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified wrist
- S61.549A — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified wrist, initial encounter
- S61.549D — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified wrist, subsequent encounter
- S61.549S — Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified wrist, sequela
- S61.551 — Open bite of right wrist
- S61.551A — Open bite of right wrist, initial encounter
- S61.551D — Open bite of right wrist, subsequent encounter
- S61.551S — Open bite of right wrist, sequela
- S61.552 — Open bite of left wrist