2025 ICD-10-CM code S11

Open wound of the neck.

Follow official ICD-10-CM coding guidelines.Use additional codes to specify location and severity of injury; use Chapter 20 codes to indicate the cause if not already included in the T-section code. Use Z18.- for retained foreign bodies.

Not applicable to ICD-10 codes. Modifiers are used with CPT and HCPCS codes.

Medical necessity for treatment of an open wound of the neck is established by the presence of a break in the skin or mucous membrane that requires evaluation and treatment to prevent infection, promote healing, restore function, and address any related complications. The extent of the treatment required is based on the severity of the injury.

The clinical responsibility for an open wound of the neck will vary depending on the severity and complexity of the injury. It may involve initial assessment and treatment by emergency medical personnel, primary care physicians, surgeons, or other specialists, such as otolaryngologists if the wound involves the throat or larynx.

IMPORTANT Additional codes may be necessary to specify the location (e.g., larynx, trachea, thyroid gland, pharynx, esophagus) and extent of the wound, and to identify any complications such as infection or retained foreign bodies.Consider using codes from Chapter 20 (External causes of morbidity) to indicate the cause of injury if it is not already included in the T-section code.For retained foreign bodies, use codes from the Z18.- category.

In simple words: An open wound on the neck is a break in the skin or mucous membrane of the neck area, which may or may not bleed. This ICD-10 code covers various types of neck wounds, but not burns, frostbite, or specific foreign body issues.

S11 in ICD-10-CM classifies open wounds affecting the neck.This includes breaks in the skin or mucous membranes of the neck region, with or without bleeding. The code encompasses various wound severities and locations within the neck, excluding specific conditions like burns, corrosions, frostbite, and effects of foreign bodies in the esophagus, larynx, pharynx, or trachea.Further specification may be required using additional codes to pinpoint the exact location and nature of the injury or any associated complications.

Example 1: A patient presents to the emergency department after a motor vehicle accident with a deep laceration to the anterior neck. The wound requires surgical repair, and the patient also suffers from a cervical spine fracture requiring stabilization surgery. S11 is coded to describe the open wound of the neck.Additional codes are used for the cervical spine fracture and any other related injuries. , A patient sustains a superficial cut on the neck from a sharp object. The wound is cleaned and closed with sutures in an urgent care setting. S11 is used.No additional codes are needed for this straightforward case unless the depth or location of the wound requires further specificity., A patient has a puncture wound to the neck caused by an animal bite.The wound becomes infected, and the patient requires antibiotic therapy and wound debridement. S11 is used, plus additional codes for the infection and the specific procedures. A code from Chapter 20 (External causes of morbidity) would be included to document the cause of the injury.

Detailed documentation of the injury should be recorded, including location, size, depth, mechanism of injury, presence of foreign bodies, associated injuries, assessment of vascular and neurological structures, treatment provided (including cleaning, debridement, suture, foreign body removal, or other), and any complications (e.g., infection).Images (such as photographs or operative reports) can greatly enhance the accuracy of coding. Any associated medical conditions (like diabetes which affects wound healing) are also needed to support medical necessity.

** Always consult the latest official ICD-10-CM coding guidelines for the most accurate coding practices.The seventh character (A, D, or S) should be added to indicate the encounter (initial, subsequent, or sequela).Remember to consider coding any complications, such as infection or the need for surgical intervention.

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