S81

Non-billable

Open wound of knee and lower leg

S81 is the ICD-10-CM code for Open wound of knee and lower leg. It is a non-billable category code — use a more specific child code such as S81.0 for billing.

Status
Header (non-billable)
Chapter
S00-T88
Subcodes
2
Edition
FY2026

S00-T88 Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes

What this means — in plain language

MedlinePlus · NIH

Your knee joint is made up of bone, cartilage, ligaments and fluid. Muscles and tendons help the knee joint move. When any of these structures is hurt or diseased, you have knee problems. Knee problems can cause pain and difficulty walking. Knee problems are very common, and they occur in people of all ages. Knee problems can interfere with many things, from participation in sports to simply getting up from a chair…

Read more about Knee Injuries and Disorders at MedlinePlus ↗

Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Informational only — not medical advice.

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.-)

Notes

  • any associated wound infection

Frequently asked questions

What is ICD-10 code S81?
S81 is the ICD-10-CM code for "Open wound of knee and lower leg". It falls under S00-T88 Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.
Is S81 a billable code?
No — S81 is a non-billable header code. Use a more specific child code (such as S81.0) for billing.
What are the subcodes of S81?
S81 has 2 more specific child codes, including S81.0, S81.8.
What is excluded from S81?
Excludes1 (not coded here): open fracture of knee and lower leg (S82.-); traumatic amputation of lower leg (S88.-).

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM FY2026. For informational purposes only — not medical advice. See our medical disclaimer.

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