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T81.328A ICD-10-CM Code: Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, initial encounter

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Coding at a Glance

7th character
Required — see the character table on this page
Tabular directives
6 inclusion terms · 5 Excludes1 · 31 Excludes2 · 3 use-additional codes

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 919 — COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITH MCC (MDC 21)
  • MS-DRG 920 — COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITH CC (MDC 21)
  • MS-DRG 921 — COMPLICATIONS OF TREATMENT WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 21)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for T81.328A in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Notes without a marker are published on T81.328A itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Inclusion Terms

Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.

  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of muscle or muscle flap (other than abdominal wall muscle)
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of ribs or rib cage
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of skull or craniotomy
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of sternum or sternotomy
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of tendon or ligament
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of superficial or muscular fascia (other than abdominal wall fascia)

Source: inherited from T81.328

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).

Source: inherited from T81.3

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

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

Use Additional Code

Supplementary codes the tabular list directs you to add.

  • Use additional code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
  • Use additional code(s) to identify the specified condition resulting from the complication
  • Use additional code to identify devices involved and details of circumstances (Y62-Y82)

Source: inherited from T80-T88

7th Character Guide

"The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81"

  • 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

T81.328A, T81.328D, T81.328S

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 T81.328A

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

Before you code T81.328A

  1. “Other” (NEC) means the condition is specified in the record but no dedicated code captures it. Confirm the documented form is not one a sibling code names before settling on T81.328A; if the record states no specifics at all, the unspecified sibling applies instead. “Other” codes are for documented conditions the classification gives no specific code; “unspecified” codes are for records lacking the detail (Guidelines I.A.9.a, I.A.9.b).

    ReviewT81.320A, T81.321A

    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. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with T81.328A. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

    See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

  1. Does the documentation support a condition named in T81.328A’s Excludes1 note?
    Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
    No → Continue.

    ReviewT85.612, T85.622, O90.0, O90.1, T85.692

  2. 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 T81.328A. Then work the Use Additional Code 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).
Encounter type
Active treatment, healing or recovery phase, or sequela — the basis of the 7th character (Guidelines I.C.19.a).
The conditions the Use Additional Code note names
Reported with this code when documented; a conditional instruction (“if applicable”, “if known”) applies only when the record supports it.
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

  • Excludes1 — check before selecting T81.328A(5 notes)

    Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with T81.328A: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

    CompareT85.612, T85.622, O90.0, O90.1, T85.692

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

  • Excludes2 — not part of T81.328A(31 notes)

    Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in T81.328A. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

    CompareT80, T86, L23.3, L24.4, L25.1, M27.6

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

  • Use Additional Code — after identifying T81.328A(3 notes)

    Coding workflow: Check whether the documentation supports the additional code(s) the note names, and report them with T81.328A when it does. Where the instruction is conditional (“if applicable”, “if known”), it applies only when the record documents the condition.

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.13

Coding decision scenarios

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

Documentation: Both the condition T81.328A describes and a condition named in its Excludes1 note are documented for the same encounter.

Coding question: Can both codes be reported?

Path: Review the Excludes1 note and the excluded code, and look for a provider statement on whether the two conditions are related.

Reason: Excludes1 means the two are not coded together; the exception is when the record shows the conditions are unrelated to each other (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

ReviewT85.612, T85.622, O90.0, O90.1, T85.692

Documentation: The patient returns during the healing or recovery phase after active treatment of the same condition.

Coding question: Which 7th character applies?

Path: Review the official 7th-character definitions for this family in the 7th Character Guide.

Reason: “Initial encounter” means active treatment, not the first visit; care during recovery takes “subsequent encounter”, and a complication arising from the original condition takes “sequela” (Guidelines I.C.19.a).

Documentation: A condition the Use Additional Code note names is documented.

Coding question: Is a second code reported with T81.328A?

Path: Review the Use Additional Code note and the code it names.

Reason: The additional code is reported when the record documents the condition; a conditional instruction applies only when its condition is met (Guidelines I.A.13).

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.

Code Overview

Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (T81.328A).

MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.

Indexed Clinical Terms (22)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

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. 3 Use Additional Code instructions — report the named additional code(s) when the documentation supports them. See the Use Additional Code notes
  3. 5 Excludes1 entries — codes named there are generally not reported together with this code (Guidelines I.A.12.a). See the Excludes1 notes
  4. 31 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 T81.328A 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 Excludes1 note: T88.7 — Unspecified adverse effect of drug or medicament (via T81.-).

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 3 Excludes2 notes: T78 — Adverse effects, not elsewhere classified (via T81.-), T79 — Certain early complications of trauma, not elsewhere classified (via T81.-), T88 — Other complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified (via T81.-).

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

Referenced by 1 Code First instruction: J98.51 — Mediastinitis (via T81.-).

Each of these codes carries a Code First note naming this condition — when that code is reported, THIS code is sequenced first, ahead of it.

Referenced by 6 Code Also instructions across 3 chapters: J86.0 — Pyothorax with fistula (via T81.32.-), K31.6 — Fistula of stomach and duodenum (via T81.32.-), K63.2 — Fistula of intestine (via T81.32.-), K82.3 — Fistula of gallbladder (via T81.32.-), T81.4 — Infection following a procedure (via T81.32.-), T81.83 — Persistent postprocedural fistula (via T81.32.-).

These codes suggest coding this condition alongside when both are present.

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 53 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 3 MS-DRGs: DRG 919 (MDC 21), DRG 920 (MDC 21), DRG 921 (MDC 21).

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

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):INJ037 — Complication of other surgical or medical care, injury, 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.

H95.88 — Other intraoperative complications and disorders of the ear and mastoid process, not elsewhere classified, H95.89 — Other postprocedural complications and disorders of the ear and mastoid process, not elsewhere classified, I97.3 — Postprocedural hypertension, L76.81 — Other intraoperative complications of skin and subcutaneous tissue, L76.82 — Other postprocedural complications of skin and subcutaneous tissue, M96.89 — Other intraoperative and postprocedural complications and disorders of the musculoskeletal system, N98.1 — Hyperstimulation of ovaries, N98.2 — Complications of attempted introduction of fertilized ovum following in vitro fertilization, N98.3 — Complications of attempted introduction of embryo in embryo transfer, N98.8 — Other complications associated with artificial fertilization, N98.9 — Complication associated with artificial fertilization, unspecified, T81.30XA — Disruption of wound, unspecified, initial encounter, T81.31XA — Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter, T81.320A — Disruption or dehiscence of gastrointestinal tract anastomosis, repair, or closure, initial encounter, T81.321A — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of internal operation (surgical) wound of abdominal wall muscle or fascia, initial encounter, T81.329A — Deep disruption or dehiscence of operation wound, unspecified, initial encounter, T81.33XA — Disruption of traumatic injury wound repair, initial encounter, T81.82XA — Emphysema (subcutaneous) resulting from a procedure, initial encounter, T81.89XA — Other complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter, T81.9XXA — Unspecified complication of procedure, initial encounter, +32 more

Same injury, other encounter phase

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

T81.328D — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, subsequent encounterCompare T81.328A vs T81.328D →, T81.328S — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, sequelaCompare T81.328A vs T81.328S →

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Complication of other surgical or medical care, injury, initial encounter).

T80.A19A — Non-ABO incompatibility with hemolytic transfusion reaction, unspecified, initial encounter, T80.A9XA — Other non-ABO incompatibility reaction due to transfusion of blood or blood products, initial encounter, T81.10XA — Postprocedural shock unspecified, initial encounter, T81.11XA — Postprocedural cardiogenic shock, initial encounter, T81.12XA — Postprocedural septic shock, initial encounter, T81.19XA — Other postprocedural shock, initial encounter, T81.30XA — Disruption of wound, unspecified, initial encounter, T81.31XA — Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified, initial encounter, T81.320A — Disruption or dehiscence of gastrointestinal tract anastomosis, repair, or closure, initial encounter, T81.321A — Disruption or dehiscence of closure of internal operation (surgical) wound of abdominal wall muscle or fascia, initial encounter, T81.329A — Deep disruption or dehiscence of operation wound, unspecified, initial encounter, T81.33XA — Disruption of traumatic injury wound repair, initial encounter, T81.40XA — Infection following a procedure, unspecified, initial encounter, T81.41XA — Infection following a procedure, superficial incisional surgical site, initial encounter, T81.42XA — Infection following a procedure, deep incisional surgical site, initial encounter, T81.43XA — Infection following a procedure, organ and space surgical site, initial encounter, T81.44XA — Sepsis following a procedure, initial encounter, T81.49XA — Infection following a procedure, other surgical site, initial encounter, T81.500A — Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following surgical operation, initial encounter, T81.501A — Unspecified complication of foreign body accidentally left in body following infusion or transfusion, initial encounter, +230 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of T81.328A 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 T81.328A with these 11 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

Referenced by Code First instructions

  • J98.51 — Mediastinitis[Code First](via T81.-): “underlying condition, if applicable, such as postoperative mediastinitis (T81.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Code Also instructions

  • J86.0 — Pyothorax with fistula[Code Also](via T81.32.-): “, if applicable, disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound (T81.32-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
  • K31.6 — Fistula of stomach and duodenum[Code Also](via T81.32.-): “, if applicable, disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound (T81.32-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
  • K63.2 — Fistula of intestine[Code Also](via T81.32.-): “, if applicable, disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound (T81.32-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
  • K82.3 — Fistula of gallbladder[Code Also](via T81.32.-): “, if applicable, disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound (T81.32-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
  • T81.4 — Infection following a procedure[Code Also](via T81.32.-): “, if applicable, disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound (T81.32-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
  • T81.83 — Persistent postprocedural fistula[Code Also](via T81.32.-): “, if applicable, disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound (T81.32-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

MS-DRG Grouper

MDC crossing

  • MDC 21 — Injuries, Poisonings and Toxic Effects of Drugs[MDC crossing]: “Injuries, Poisonings and Toxic Effects of Drugs — 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. 32,029 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries (22)

  • Burst stitches or sutures (complication of surgery), internal operation wound[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Burst stitches or sutures (complication of surgery), internal operation wound, specified NEC[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Dehiscence (of), closure of, craniotomy[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Dehiscence (of), closure of, fascia (muscular) (superficial)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Dehiscence (of), closure of, internal organ or tissue[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Dehiscence (of), closure of, ligament[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Dehiscence (of), closure of, muscle or muscle flap[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Dehiscence (of), closure of, ribs or rib cage[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • and 14 more

Nearest codes (40)

Change history

Common coding questions

Does T81.328A require a 7th character?

Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T81.

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

Change history

  • FY2025 — October 1, 2024
    Added to the code set
    Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound, initial encounter
    FY2025 changes

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to T81.328A in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the T81 family