S76.929A ICD-10-CM Code: Laceration of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, unspecified thigh, initial encounter

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for S76.929A in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Notes without a marker are published on S76.929A 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 S76"

• A — initial encounter (this page’s code)
• 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

S76.929A, S76.929D, S76.929S

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.

Coder workflow for S76.929A

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code S76.929A

1. Unspecified does not mean incorrect. When the record gives no greater specificity, S76.929A may be the appropriate code. Check the record for detail that supports a more specific sibling. An unspecified code is for records that do not provide the detail a more specific code needs; a query, not an assumption, is the route to specificity (Guidelines I.A.9.b, I.B.18).

   See the relationships section · Guide: Other vs unspecified (NEC vs NOS) →

2. A 7th character is required in this family. Confirm the documented encounter: initial (active treatment), subsequent (healing or recovery phase), or sequela. This page’s code carries “A”. “Initial” means active treatment, not the first visit (Guidelines I.C.19.a).

   See the 7th Character Guide · Guide: 7th characters: initial, subsequent, sequela →

3. Laterality is coded in this family. Confirm the side documented — right, left, or bilateral — and select the matching code (this page’s code: unspecified). The unspecified-side code applies only when the record states no side. Laterality is assigned from the documented side; where a bilateral code exists and both sides are documented, it is used instead of two unilateral codes (Guidelines I.B.13).

   See the relationships section · Guide: Laterality coding →

4. Confirm the injury type, the anatomical site at the most specific level documented, laterality where the family codes it, and the encounter for the 7th character. Each injury is coded separately unless the classification provides a combination code, and a superficial injury is not coded when a more severe injury of the same site is documented. Injury chapter guidelines (Guidelines I.C.19.b, I.C.19.b.1).

   Guide: 7th characters: initial, subsequent, sequela →

Choose the right path

1. Does the record document the detail a more specific sibling code needs?
   Yes → Review the specific siblings in this subcategory.
   No → Continue — S76.929A is appropriate when the documentation goes no further.
2. Is the side documented?
   Yes → Select the code for the documented side (or the bilateral code when both sides are documented and one exists).
   No → Use the unspecified-side code only when the record states no side; a query is the alternative.
3. Is the encounter phase documented — active treatment, healing or recovery, or a sequela?
   Yes → Assign the matching 7th character; the variant codes are in the 7th Character Guide.
   No → The code is invalid without its 7th character — query for the missing element.

Consider S76.929A. Then review the Code Also note, and confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement

Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Anatomical site

At the most specific level the record states; a site the classification separates cannot be assumed from a procedure or a measurement.

Laterality

Right, left or bilateral as documented; unspecified only when the record states no side (Guidelines I.B.13).

Encounter type

Active treatment, healing or recovery phase, or sequela — the basis of the 7th character (Guidelines I.C.19.a).

External cause, place and activity

For the external cause codes reported with the injury or poisoning, where documented (Guidelines I.C.20.a).

Any detail beyond this code’s title

What the record states that a more specific sibling code would capture — or its absence, which itself supports the unspecified code.

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes2 — not part of S76.929A(6 notes)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in S76.929A. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareS86, S73.1, T63.0, T63.4

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

• Code Also — related condition(1 note)

  Coding workflow: Review the related condition when both are documented and the instruction applies. A Code Also note does not fix sequencing; the order follows the circumstances of the encounter.

  ReviewS71

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.17

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Don’t confuse S76.929A with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of S76.929A — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

• S76.929D— Encounter relationship (Review)

  Same underlying diagnosis, different encounter phase.

  The same diagnosis at a different phase of care; one encounter takes one 7th character.

  What moves you there: Documentation of a subsequent encounter moves the case to S76.929D.

  Full comparison: S76.929A vs S76.929D →

• S76.929S— Encounter relationship (Review)

  Same underlying diagnosis, different encounter phase.

  The same diagnosis at a different phase of care; one encounter takes one 7th character.

  What moves you there: Documentation of a sequela moves the case to S76.929S.

  Full comparison: S76.929A vs S76.929S →

• S86— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

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

  What moves you there: Documentation of injury of muscle, fascia and tendon at lower leg level adds S86; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: S76.929A vs S86 →

• S73.1— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

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

  What moves you there: Documentation of sprain of joint and ligament of hip adds S73.1; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: S76.929A vs S73.1 →

• T20— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

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

  What moves you there: Documentation of burns and corrosions adds T20; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: S76.929A vs T20 →

• T32— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

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

  What moves you there: Documentation of burns and corrosions adds T32; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: S76.929A vs T32 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. 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

• CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

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

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name S76.929A 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: S73 — Dislocation and sprain of joint and ligaments of hip (via S76.-).

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

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 54 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 6 MS-DRGs: DRG 564 (MDC 08), DRG 565 (MDC 08), DRG 566 (MDC 08), DRG 963 (MDC 24), DRG 964 (MDC 24), DRG 965 (MDC 24).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):INJ012 — Open wounds to limbs, initial encounter (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical process (MS-DRG)

Acts as CC — raises the severity of other admissions. CMS groups these diagnoses into one MS-DRG principal-diagnosis exclusion process — a CC/MCC on this list never raises severity when the principal diagnosis is also on it.

S71.151A — Open bite, right thigh, initial encounter, S71.152A — Open bite, left thigh, initial encounter, S71.159A — Open bite, unspecified thigh, initial encounter, S76.021A — Laceration of muscle, fascia and tendon of right hip, initial encounter, S76.022A — Laceration of muscle, fascia and tendon of left hip, initial encounter, S76.029A — Laceration of muscle, fascia and tendon of unspecified hip, initial encounter, S76.121A — Laceration of right quadriceps muscle, fascia and tendon, initial encounter, S76.122A — Laceration of left quadriceps muscle, fascia and tendon, initial encounter, S76.129A — Laceration of unspecified quadriceps muscle, fascia and tendon, initial encounter, S76.221A — Laceration of adductor muscle, fascia and tendon of right thigh, initial encounter, S76.222A — Laceration of adductor muscle, fascia and tendon of left thigh, initial encounter, S76.229A — Laceration of adductor muscle, fascia and tendon of unspecified thigh, initial encounter, S76.321A — Laceration of muscle, fascia and tendon of the posterior muscle group at thigh level, right thigh, initial encounter, S76.322A — Laceration of muscle, fascia and tendon of the posterior muscle group at thigh level, left thigh, initial encounter, S76.329A — Laceration of muscle, fascia and tendon of the posterior muscle group at thigh level, unspecified thigh, initial encounter, S76.821A — Laceration of other specified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, right thigh, initial encounter, S76.822A — Laceration of other specified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, left thigh, initial encounter, S76.829A — Laceration of other specified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, unspecified thigh, initial encounter, S76.921A — Laceration of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, right thigh, initial encounter, S76.922A — Laceration of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, left thigh, initial encounter, +33 more

Same injury, other encounter phase

Same injury, coded at a different phase of treatment via the 7th character.

S76.929D — Laceration of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, unspecified thigh, subsequent encounterCompare S76.929A vs S76.929D →, S76.929S — Laceration of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, unspecified thigh, sequelaCompare S76.929A vs S76.929S →

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Open wounds to limbs, initial encounter).

+605 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of S76.929A 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 S76.929A 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
• S70-S79 — Injuries to the hip and thigh[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

• S73 — Dislocation and sprain of joint and ligaments of hip[Excludes2](via S76.-): “strain of muscle, fascia and tendon of hip and thigh (S76.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

• INJ012 — Open wounds to limbs, initial encounter[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)

MS-DRG Grouper

• CC — Complication or Comorbidity [MS-DRG severity]: “As a secondary diagnosis this code can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier (CC).”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix C) · FY2026
• DRG 564 — OTHER MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE DIAGNOSES WITH MCC[MS-DRG]: “OTHER MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE DIAGNOSES WITH MCC (MDC 08)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 565 — OTHER MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE DIAGNOSES WITH CC[MS-DRG]: “OTHER MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE DIAGNOSES WITH CC (MDC 08)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 566 — OTHER MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE DIAGNOSES WITHOUT CC/MCC[MS-DRG]: “OTHER MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE DIAGNOSES WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 08)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 963 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH MCC[MS-DRG]: “OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH MCC (MDC 24)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 964 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH CC[MS-DRG]: “OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITH CC (MDC 24)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 965 — OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITHOUT CC/MCC[MS-DRG]: “OTHER MULTIPLE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 24)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026

MDC crossing

• MDC 08 — Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 18,508 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026
• MDC 24 — Multiple Significant Trauma[MDC crossing]: “Multiple Significant Trauma — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 22,957 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Nearest codes (40)

• S76 — Injury of muscle, fascia and tendon at hip and thigh level[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S76.909D — Unspecified injury of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, unspecified thigh, subsequent encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S76.909S — Unspecified injury of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, unspecified thigh, sequela[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S76.91 — Strain of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S76.911 — Strain of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, right thigh[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S76.911A — Strain of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, right thigh, initial encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S76.911D — Strain of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, right thigh, subsequent encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S76.911S — Strain of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, right thigh, sequela[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

Inpatient payment groups Official source data

CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v43 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 S76.929A in its code family, with their registry titles.

• S76.922 — Laceration of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, left thigh
• S76.922A — Laceration of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, left thigh, initial encounter
• S76.922D — Laceration of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, left thigh, subsequent encounter
• S76.922S — Laceration of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, left thigh, sequela
• S76.929 — Laceration of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, unspecified thigh
• S76.929D — Laceration of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, unspecified thigh, subsequent encounter
• S76.929S — Laceration of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, unspecified thigh, sequela
• S76.99 — Other specified injury of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level
• S76.991 — Other specified injury of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, right thigh
• S76.991A — Other specified injury of unspecified muscles, fascia and tendons at thigh level, right thigh, initial encounter

View all codes in the S76 family