T20.31 — Burn of third degree of ear [any part, except ear drum]

Billing Status: NO. This is a clinician non-billable / parent hierarchy grouping in the ICD-10-CM system.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Burn of third degree of ear [any part, except ear drum] is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (T20.31). A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission.

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for T20.31 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

Includes

Conditions the official ICD-10-CM tabular list includes under this code.

burns and corrosions of first degree [erythema]
burns and corrosions of second degree [blisters][epidermal loss]
burns and corrosions of third degree [deep necrosis of underlying tissue] [full- thickness skin loss]

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

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

burn of ear drum (T28.41-) Compare T20.31 vs T28.41 →
burn and corrosion of ear drum (T28.41, T28.91) Compare T20.31 vs T28.41 →
burn and corrosion of eye and adnexa (T26.-) Compare T20.31 vs T26 →
burn and corrosion of mouth and pharynx (T28.0) Compare T20.31 vs T28.0 →

Use Additional Code

Supplementary codes the tabular list directs you to add.

external cause code to identify the source, place and intent of the burn (X00-X19, X75-X77, X96-X98, Y92)
Use additional code from category T31 or T32 to identify extent of body surface involved

Frequently Compared Codes

The official Excludes notes on T20.31 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: T20.311A, T20.311D, T20.311S, T20.312A, T20.312D.
Requires a 7th character. "The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T20" Options: T20.311A, T20.311D, T20.311S, T20.312A, T20.312D, T20.312S

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 T20.31 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]

Excludes2

T28.41 — Burn of ear drum [Excludes2]: “burn of ear drum (T28.41-)” · check together

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

T07 — Unspecified multiple injuries [Excludes1](via T20.-): “burns and corrosions (T20-T32)” · check together
T66 — Radiation sickness, unspecified [Excludes1](via T20.-): “burns (T20-T31)” · check together

Referenced by Excludes2 notes (121)

S00 — Superficial injury of head [Excludes2](via T20.-): “burns and corrosions (T20-T32)” · check together
S00-S09 — Injuries to the head (S00-S09) [Excludes2](via T20.-): “burns and corrosions (T20-T32)” · check together
S01 — Open wound of head [Excludes2](via T20.-): “burns and corrosions (T20-T32)” · check together
S02 — Fracture of skull and facial bones [Excludes2](via T20.-): “burns and corrosions (T20-T32)” · check together
S03 — Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of head [Excludes2](via T20.-): “burns and corrosions (T20-T32)” · check together
S04 — Injury of cranial nerve [Excludes2](via T20.-): “burns and corrosions (T20-T32)” · check together
S05 — Injury of eye and orbit [Excludes2](via T20.-): “burns and corrosions (T20-T32)” · check together
S06 — Intracranial injury [Excludes2](via T20.-): “burns and corrosions (T20-T32)” · check together
and 113 more

Index entries

Burn (electricity) (flame) (hot gas, liquid or hot object) (radiation) (steam) (thermal), ear (auricle) (external) (canal), third degree[Index term]

Nearest codes (40)

T20 — Burn and corrosion of head, face, and neck [Sibling]
T20.25XA — Burn of second degree of scalp [any part], initial encounter [Sibling]
T20.25XD — Burn of second degree of scalp [any part], subsequent encounter [Sibling]
T20.25XS — Burn of second degree of scalp [any part], sequela [Sibling]
T20.26 — Burn of second degree of forehead and cheek [Sibling]
T20.26XA — Burn of second degree of forehead and cheek, initial encounter [Sibling]
T20.26XD — Burn of second degree of forehead and cheek, subsequent encounter [Sibling]
T20.26XS — Burn of second degree of forehead and cheek, sequela [Sibling]
and 32 more

Referenced by Other Codes

Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes on other codes that name T20.31 or its code family.

2 Excludes1 notes: T07 (via T20.-), T66 (via T20.-).

121 Excludes2 notes: S00 (via T20.-), S00-S09 (via T20.-), S01 (via T20.-), S02 (via T20.-), S03 (via T20.-), S04 (via T20.-), S05 (via T20.-), S06 (via T20.-), S07 (via T20.-), S08 (via T20.-) and 111 more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance

Can T20.31 be billed directly?

No. T20.31 (Burn of third degree of ear [any part, except ear drum]) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.

Does T20.31 require a 7th character?

Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T20.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to T20.31 in its code family, with their registry titles.

T20.3 — Burn of third degree of head, face, and neck
T20.30 — Burn of third degree of head, face, and neck, unspecified site
T20.30XA — Burn of third degree of head, face, and neck, unspecified site, initial encounter
T20.30XD — Burn of third degree of head, face, and neck, unspecified site, subsequent encounter
T20.30XS — Burn of third degree of head, face, and neck, unspecified site, sequela
T20.311 — Burn of third degree of right ear [any part, except ear drum]
T20.311A — Burn of third degree of right ear [any part, except ear drum], initial encounter
T20.311D — Burn of third degree of right ear [any part, except ear drum], subsequent encounter
T20.311S — Burn of third degree of right ear [any part, except ear drum], sequela
T20.312 — Burn of third degree of left ear [any part, except ear drum]

View all codes in the T20 family

Indexed Clinical Terms (1)

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code.

Burn (electricity) (flame) (hot gas, liquid or hot object) (radiation) (steam) (thermal), ear (auricle) (external) (canal), third degree

T20.31 ICD-10-CM Code: Burn of third degree of ear [any part, except ear drum]