ICD-10/S81.001

S81.001 ICD 2026 Code: Unspecified open wound, right knee

S81.001 is the authoritative medical code for Unspecified open wound, right knee. This classification is used in medical billing and clinical recording to specify the clinical criteria for unspecified open wound, right knee (ICD-10-CM S81.001), 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

Unspecified open wound, right knee is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code S81.001. A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission. Excludes1 (not coded here): open fracture of knee and lower leg S82.-; traumatic amputation of lower leg S88.-. Excludes2 (not included here): open wound of ankle and foot S91.-; burns and corrosions T20-T32; frostbite T33-T34; injuries of ankle and foot, except fracture of ankle and malleolus S90-S99; insect bite or sting, venomous T63.4. Code also: any associated wound infection. 7th character: The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S81.

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S81.001 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

Conditions that can never be reported with this code; the two are mutually exclusive.

  • open fracture of knee and lower leg S82.-
  • traumatic amputation of lower leg S88.-

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

  • open wound of ankle and foot S91.-
  • burns and corrosions T20-T32
  • frostbite T33-T34
  • injuries of ankle and foot, except fracture of ankle and malleolus S90-S99
  • insect bite or sting, venomous T63.4

Code Also

Additional codes that may be required to fully describe the encounter.

  • any associated wound infection

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance

Can S81.001 be billed directly?

No. S81.001 (Unspecified open wound, right knee) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.

Does S81.001 require a 7th character?

Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S81.

What can't be coded together with S81.001?

Per Excludes1 instructions, S81.001 must not be reported with: open fracture of knee and lower leg (S82.-); traumatic amputation of lower leg (S88.-).

Can S81.001 be reported alongside related conditions?

Per Excludes2 instructions, S81.001 and the following may both be reported when both are present: open wound of ankle and foot (S91.-); burns and corrosions (T20-T32); frostbite (T33-T34); injuries of ankle and foot, except fracture of ankle and malleolus (S90-S99).

Codes in This Family (3)

Official ICD-10-CM classifications in the same code family as S81.001, with their registry titles.

  • S81.001A — Unspecified open wound, right knee, initial encounter
  • S81.001D — Unspecified open wound, right knee, subsequent encounter
  • S81.001S — Unspecified open wound, right knee, sequela

Related Codes & Numerical Sequence (Crawl Map)

Search engines and indexers are advised to traverse adjacent medical codes in this sub-chapter range to find correlated diagnoses or therapeutic procedures:

ICD Code S76.001 Unspecified injury of muscle, fascia and tendon of right hip
ICD Code S79.001 Unspecified physeal fracture of upper end of right femur
ICD Code S82.001 Unspecified fracture of right patella
ICD Code S83.001 Unspecified subluxation of right patella
ICD Code S85.001 Unspecified injury of popliteal artery, right leg
ICD Code S86.001 Unspecified injury of right Achilles tendon
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