S51.8
Header — not billableOpen wound of forearm
The ICD-10 code for open wound of forearm is S51.8.
S51.8 is a non-billable header code. It groups related conditions but cannot be used on its own for reimbursement — select one of the 6 more specific codes below.
Clinical notes
Excludes2 (not included here)
An Excludes2 note means the excluded condition is not part of this one, but a patient can have both at the same time — in that case both codes may be reported together.
- open wound of elbow (S51.0-)
Documentation support
General coding-documentation guidance — not a substitute for payer-specific requirements or professional coding judgment.
- •This is a non-billable header code. Documentation must support a more specific child code before this diagnosis can be reported on a claim.
- •As a general rule, code to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation in the medical record.
Child codes under S51.8
- S51.80Unspecified open wound of forearmnon-billable header
- S51.81Laceration without foreign body of forearmnon-billable header
- S51.82Laceration with foreign body of forearmnon-billable header
- S51.83Puncture wound without foreign body of forearmnon-billable header
- S51.84Puncture wound with foreign body of forearmnon-billable header
- S51.85Open bite of forearmnon-billable header
Related codes in this category
- S51.0Open wound of elbownon-billable header
- S51.8Open wound of forearmnon-billable header