2025 ICD-10-CM code S69.9
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes - Injuries to the wrist, hand and fingers 19 Feed
Unspecified injury of wrist, hand and finger(s).
Medical necessity is established by the clinical presentation of the injury. The documentation should support the need for medical evaluation and treatment.
Diagnosis is based on patient history and physical examination. Treatment includes pain management, infection prevention (if applicable), and possible surgical intervention depending on the underlying injury.
In simple words: This code represents an injury to the wrist, hand, or fingers where the specific type of injury is not known or specified by the healthcare provider.
Unspecified injury of the wrist, hand, and fingers indicates damage to these areas without specifying the exact nature of the injury. This code is used when the type of injury (e.g., fracture, sprain, laceration) is not documented or unknown.
Example 1: A patient presents to the emergency room after falling and injuring their hand. The physician documents "hand injury" without further specification. Code S69.9 is used., A patient reports pain in their wrist after a sports injury. Imaging is inconclusive, and the physician documents "unspecified wrist injury." Code S69.9 is used., A patient experiences pain and limited mobility in their fingers after a work-related incident. The nature of the injury is not clearly defined. Code S69.9 is used.
Documentation should include the location of the injury (wrist, hand, or finger) and details of the incident causing the injury. If possible, document the signs and symptoms observed.
** This code should not be used if a more specific code is available. For example, if the injury is a fracture, use the appropriate fracture code. This code also excludes birth trauma (P10-P15) and obstetric trauma (O70-O71).
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Primary Care
- Place of Service:Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Urgent Care Facility