T81.31XA is the authoritative medical code for Disruption of external operation surgical wound, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter. This classification is used in medical billing and clinical recording to specify the clinical criteria for disruption of external operation surgical wound, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter (ICD-10-CM T81.31XA), ensuring healthcare documentation aligns with 2026 federal coding standards.
Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.
Official Registry Overview & Definition
Disruption of external operation surgical wound, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code T81.31A. Inclusion terms: Dehiscence of operation wound NOS; Disruption of operation wound NOS; Disruption or dehiscence of closure of cornea; Disruption or dehiscence of closure of mucosa; Disruption or dehiscence of closure of skin and subcutaneous tissue; Full-thickness skin disruption or dehiscence; Superficial disruption or dehiscence of operation wound. Excludes1 (not coded here): dehiscence of amputation stump T87.81; breakdown mechanical of permanent sutures T85.612; displacement of permanent sutures T85.622; disruption of cesarean delivery wound O90.0; disruption of perineal obstetric wound O90.1; mechanical complication of permanent sutures NEC T85.692. Excludes2 (not included here): complications following immunization T88.0-T88.1; complications following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection T80.-; complications of transplanted organs and tissue T86.-; specified complications classified elsewhere, such as:; complication of prosthetic devices, implants and grafts T82-T85; dermatitis due to drugs and medicaments (L23.3, L24.4, L25.1, L27.0-L27.1); endosseous dental implant failure M27.6-; floppy iris syndrome IFIS (intraoperative) H21.81; intraoperative and postprocedural complications of specific body system (D78.-, E36.-, E89.-, G97.3-, G97.4, H59.3-, H59.-, H95.2-, H95.3, I97.4-, I97.5, J95, K91.-, L76.-, M96.-, N99.-); ostomy complications (J95.0-, K94.-, N99.5-); plateau iris syndrome (post-iridectomy) (postprocedural) H21.82; poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4); any encounters with medical care for postprocedural conditions in which no complications are present, such as:; artificial opening status Z93.-; closure of external stoma Z43.-; fitting and adjustment of external prosthetic device Z44.-; burns and corrosions from local applications and irradiation T20-T32; complications of surgical procedures during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium O00-O9A; mechanical complication of respirator ventilator; poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4 or 6); postprocedural fever R50.82; cerebrospinal fluid leak from spinal puncture G97.0; colostomy malfunction K94.0-; disorders of fluid and electrolyte imbalance E86-E87; functional disturbances following cardiac surgery I97.0-I97.1; intraoperative and postprocedural complications of specified body systems (D78.-, E36.-, E89.-, G97.3-, G97.4, H59.3-, H59.-, H95.2-, H95.3, I97.4-, I97.5, J95.6-, J95.7, K91.6-, L76.-, M96.-, N99.-); postgastric surgery syndromes K91.1; postlaminectomy syndrome NEC M96.1; postmastectomy lymphedema syndrome I97.2; postsurgical blind-loop syndrome K91.2; ventilator associated pneumonia J95.851. Use additional code: code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5). 7th character: The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81.
Official Tabular Instructional Notes
Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for T81.31XA in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.
Inclusion Terms
Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.
- Dehiscence of operation wound NOS
- Disruption of operation wound NOS
- Disruption or dehiscence of closure of cornea
- Disruption or dehiscence of closure of mucosa
- Disruption or dehiscence of closure of skin and subcutaneous tissue
- Full-thickness skin disruption or dehiscence
- Superficial disruption or dehiscence of operation wound
Excludes1 — Not Coded Here
Conditions that can never be reported with this code; the two are mutually exclusive.
- dehiscence of amputation stump T87.81
- breakdown mechanical of permanent sutures T85.612
- displacement of permanent sutures T85.622
- disruption of cesarean delivery wound O90.0
- disruption of perineal obstetric wound O90.1
- mechanical complication of permanent sutures NEC T85.692
Excludes2 — Not Included Here
Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.
- complications following immunization T88.0-T88.1
- complications following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection T80.-
- complications of transplanted organs and tissue T86.-
- specified complications classified elsewhere, such as:
- complication of prosthetic devices, implants and grafts T82-T85
- dermatitis due to drugs and medicaments (L23.3, L24.4, L25.1, L27.0-L27.1)
- endosseous dental implant failure M27.6-
- floppy iris syndrome IFIS (intraoperative) H21.81
- intraoperative and postprocedural complications of specific body system (D78.-, E36.-, E89.-, G97.3-, G97.4, H59.3-, H59.-, H95.2-, H95.3, I97.4-, I97.5, J95, K91.-, L76.-, M96.-, N99.-)
- ostomy complications (J95.0-, K94.-, N99.5-)
- plateau iris syndrome (post-iridectomy) (postprocedural) H21.82
- poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4)
- any encounters with medical care for postprocedural conditions in which no complications are present, such as:
- artificial opening status Z93.-
- closure of external stoma Z43.-
- fitting and adjustment of external prosthetic device Z44.-
- burns and corrosions from local applications and irradiation T20-T32
- complications of surgical procedures during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium O00-O9A
- mechanical complication of respirator ventilator
- poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4 or 6)
- postprocedural fever R50.82
- cerebrospinal fluid leak from spinal puncture G97.0
- colostomy malfunction K94.0-
- disorders of fluid and electrolyte imbalance E86-E87
- functional disturbances following cardiac surgery I97.0-I97.1
- intraoperative and postprocedural complications of specified body systems (D78.-, E36.-, E89.-, G97.3-, G97.4, H59.3-, H59.-, H95.2-, H95.3, I97.4-, I97.5, J95.6-, J95.7, K91.6-, L76.-, M96.-, N99.-)
- postgastric surgery syndromes K91.1
- postlaminectomy syndrome NEC M96.1
- postmastectomy lymphedema syndrome I97.2
- postsurgical blind-loop syndrome K91.2
- ventilator associated pneumonia J95.851
Use Additional Code
Supplementary codes the tabular list directs you to add.
- code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance
Does T81.31XA require a 7th character?
Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81.
What can't be coded together with T81.31XA?
Per Excludes1 instructions, T81.31XA must not be reported with: dehiscence of amputation stump (T87.81); breakdown (mechanical) of permanent sutures (T85.612); displacement of permanent sutures (T85.622); disruption of cesarean delivery wound (O90.0).
Can T81.31XA be reported alongside related conditions?
Per Excludes2 instructions, T81.31XA and the following may both be reported when both are present: complications following immunization (T88.0-T88.1); complications following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection (T80.-); complications of transplanted organs and tissue (T86.-); specified complications classified elsewhere, such as:.
Is an additional code needed with T81.31XA?
Use additional code(s) to specify: code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5).
What conditions are included under T81.31XA?
Disruption of external operation surgical wound, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter includes: Dehiscence of operation wound NOS; Disruption of operation wound NOS; Disruption or dehiscence of closure of cornea; Disruption or dehiscence of closure of mucosa; Disruption or dehiscence of closure of skin and subcutaneous tissue.
Codes in This Family (40)
Official ICD-10-CM classifications in the same code family as T81.31XA, with their registry titles.
- T81 — Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified
- T81.1 — Postprocedural shock
- T81.10 — Postprocedural shock unspecified
- T81.10XA — Postprocedural shock unspecified, initial encounter
- T81.10XD — Postprocedural shock unspecified, subsequent encounter
- T81.10XS — Postprocedural shock unspecified, sequela
- T81.11 — Postprocedural cardiogenic shock
- T81.11XA — Postprocedural cardiogenic shock, initial encounter
- T81.11XD — Postprocedural cardiogenic shock, subsequent encounter
- T81.11XS — Postprocedural cardiogenic shock, sequela
- T81.12 — Postprocedural septic shock
- T81.12XA — Postprocedural septic shock, initial encounter
- T81.12XD — Postprocedural septic shock, subsequent encounter
- T81.12XS — Postprocedural septic shock, sequela
- T81.19 — Other postprocedural shock
- T81.19XA — Other postprocedural shock, initial encounter
- T81.19XD — Other postprocedural shock, subsequent encounter
- T81.19XS — Other postprocedural shock, sequela
- T81.3 — Disruption of wound, not elsewhere classified
- T81.30 — Disruption of wound, unspecified
- T81.30XA — Disruption of wound, unspecified, initial encounter
- T81.30XD — Disruption of wound, unspecified, subsequent encounter
- T81.30XS — Disruption of wound, unspecified, sequela
- T81.31 — Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified
- T81.31XD — Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, subsequent encounter
- T81.31XS — Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, sequela
- T81.32 — Disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified
- T81.320 — Disruption or dehiscence of gastrointestinal tract anastomosis, repair, or closure
- T81.320A — Disruption or dehiscence of gastrointestinal tract anastomosis, repair, or closure, initial encounter
- T81.320D — Disruption or dehiscence of gastrointestinal tract anastomosis, repair, or closure, subsequent encounter
- T81.320S — Disruption or dehiscence of gastrointestinal tract anastomosis, repair, or closure, sequela
- T81.321 — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of internal operation (surgical) wound of abdominal wall muscle or fascia
- T81.321A — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of internal operation (surgical) wound of abdominal wall muscle or fascia, initial encounter
- T81.321D — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of internal operation (surgical) wound of abdominal wall muscle or fascia, subsequent encounter
- T81.321S — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of internal operation (surgical) wound of abdominal wall muscle or fascia, sequela
- T81.328 — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound
- T81.328A — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, initial encounter
- T81.328D — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, subsequent encounter
- T81.328S — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, sequela
- T81.329 — Deep disruption or dehiscence of operation wound, unspecified
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 T83.31XA
Breakdown (mechanical) of intrauterine contraceptive device, initial encounter