2025 ICD-10-CM code W10
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A External causes of morbidity - Falls Chapter 20: External causes of morbidity and mortality Feed
Fall on and from stairs and steps.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the fall and the treatment rendered. Consult the current modifier guidelines for specifics.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of injuries requiring treatment. The fall itself doesn't inherently necessitate medical attention; it is the resulting injuries that trigger the need for medical care and coding.
The physician's responsibility involves evaluating the patient for injuries resulting from the fall, providing necessary treatment, and documenting the incident and resulting injuries.The physician should also document the circumstances surrounding the fall, if possible, to complete a comprehensive record.
In simple words: This code is for a fall that happened on or from stairs or steps.This could include falls on escalators or ramps, even if there was ice or snow.The doctor will use a separate code for any injuries you got from the fall.
This code classifies falls occurring on or from stairs and steps.It includes falls from escalators, inclines, ramps, and those involving ice or snow on stairs and steps.This code is used to indicate the circumstance of the fall, not the resulting injury.The injury sustained should be coded separately.
Example 1: A 65-year-old woman falls down a flight of stairs at home, sustaining a fractured hip and a concussion.W10 would be used to describe the circumstance of the fall, with additional codes to specify the hip fracture and concussion., A 30-year-old man trips on an escalator at a shopping mall, resulting in a sprained ankle. W10.0 (Fall on/from escalator) and a code for the sprained ankle would be used., A child falls down a steep incline while playing in a park, receiving lacerations on their knees. W10.2 (Fall on/from incline) and codes for the lacerations would be utilized.
Detailed documentation should include the location of the fall (e.g., specific stairs, escalator), the circumstances surrounding the fall, the patient's pre-fall status, a description of the injuries sustained, and any treatment provided.
** This code is part of a broader category of falls (W00-W19).Always ensure that any resulting injuries are appropriately coded with the corresponding ICD-10-CM codes.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable.W10 is a diagnosis code, not a procedure code.
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Orthopedics, Traumatology
- Place of Service:Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Home, Other Place of Service