When we talk about facial injury, it actually includes any injury related to the jaw, mouth, or face. Injuries related to the face can range from a minor cut to a more serious health condition. It can be a broken tooth/tooth or a broken bone(s). And obviously, the treatment methodology depends on the severity of the injury. Facial injuries can be associated with a number of causes, including accidents, fall, injury related to sports activity, a fight, or any injury caused due to the nature of the work. It also includes injury to the nose, as in nose bleeds, broken nose, or eyes. The urgent or serious facial injuries need emergent medical attention.
ICD-10 Code for Injury to Face List
The ICD-10 Code for Injury to Face is actually divided into specified injury codes.
How do you code for injury to the face in ICD-10?
In ICD 10, injuries are usually reported under Chapter 19 of the ICD-10-CM coding system or manual. Chapter 19 is “Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes.” It consists of codes ranging from S00 to T88 with a wide range of sub-categories to them.
ICD-10 code for Unspecified Injury to Face is:
- S09.93 Unspecified injury of face
- S09.93XA …… initial encounter
- S09.93XD …… subsequent encounter
- S09.93XS …… sequela
Note that S09.93 is a non-billable or non-specific code.
ICD 10 code for injury to the face right side: –
A facial injury can be a fracture, injury to the nerve, bruising, or an open wound. If the facial injury is a specified other fracture in the facial bone or skull bone on the right side, the following are the codes, based on the condition of the patient: –
- S02.81 Fracture of other specified skull and facial bones, right side
- S02.81XA …… initial encounter for closed fracture
- S02.81XB …… initial encounter for open fracture
- S02.81XD …… subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- S02.81XG …… subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- S02.81XK …… subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- S02.81XS …… sequela
Note that S02.81 is a non-billable or non-specific code.
Causes of Facial Injuries:
There are a number of reasons or causes behind any injury, including facial injuries. They can affect the eyes, nose, jaw (upper or lower), forehead, or cheeks anywhere on the face. Following are the major and common causes of injuries related to the face:
- Sports Injuries (hockey, football, basketball, etc.)
- Accidents (car or bike crash, etc.)
- Fall or physical abuse
A head injury can also be associated with a facial injury and is something to be conscious about. Facial injuries among children are often caused due to a fall or sports.
Types of Facial Injuries:
Facial injuries are often caused due to a direct blow, accidents, or a fall accompanied by severe and sudden aches. Following is the list of the types of common facial injuries:
- Bruises
- Fractures: broken nose, forehead, orbital fractures (related to eye socket), or jaw (upper or lower).
- An open wound or cut
- Nose bleeds; in case of any injury to the nose.
- A dislocated jaw: in case of any injury to the jaw (an issue that can still create some problems even after being put back into its normal place)
Kinds of Facial Fractures:
There are various different kinds of fractures associated with injury to the face:
- Broken Nose
- Forehead fracture
- The upper jaw or check bone, related fractures
- Orbital Fractures (fractures related to eye socket)
- Le Fort fractures (associated with the mid-face)
- Fractures related to the lower jaw (also known as Mandible)
A broken nose is one of the most common facial fractures from fractures mentioned above. Common symptoms of this kind of fracture include nasal bleeding or bruising around the affected area, i.e., the nose. Nasal bones are comparatively easier to break.
Signs and symptoms of Injury to the face:
The signs or symptoms of an injury to the face depend on the part or organ (nose, jaw, eyes, etc.) bruised or injured. Following are the common signs and symptoms of a facial injury: –
- Pain in the affected area
- Swelling or bruising
- Difficulty in breathing, swallowing and talking
- Numbness or tingling sensation on the face
- Discoloration under the eyes or tongue.
Diagnosing the Injury to the Face:
First and foremost, a physical exam is done by the healthcare provider or physician to check for bleeding, nose blockage, bruising, and motion of the eyes. In order to check for a fractured bone via a physical exam, your healthcare provider might look for: –
- Any abnormal sensation or feeling on the cheeks
- Movement in the jaw (while keeping the head in the same or still position)
- Physically examining for any irregularities on the face
Addressing the injuries or any kind of fractures in the face immediately is important. A diagnostic examination like a CT scan of the head and the facial bones may also be performed by the healthcare provider. These diagnostic tests are needed and important to determine the exact location or type of the fracture.
Treating the Injury to the Face:
Facial fractures can be treated by performing one of the two procedures in general, open reduction or closed reduction. Reconstructive surgery might be needed for a more complex or complicated fracture involving various injuries or broken bone(s).
ICD-10-CM Coding System:
- The International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) is the tenth revision of this coding system. Healthcare providers use these codes for patients’ medical records, hospital paperwork, and records, including for reimbursement purposes, bills in medical billing, and coding for the healthcare services and/or for the medical procedures performed.
- ICD-10 edition of codes applies to all parties covered by HIPAA and has been implemented since October 1st, 2015. This coding system has been published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is updated every year with a few edits (some deleted codes and a few new ones being added in the lot). ICD-10 coding system currently contains about over 70,000 codes. ICD-10-CM is a more detailed coding system and provides better support than that of its predecessor, i.e., ICD-9-CM codes.
- Every ICD-10 code contains several sub-categories. Note that the major categories/codes are non-billable or non-specific, meaning they should not be used for reimbursement purposes. For instance, the 2022 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis code for an unspecified injury to the face is S09.93. It is a non-billable or non-specific code as it contains a number of other more detailed details sub-categories or multiple codes to it. However, it is further divided into sub-categories; S09.93XA is an ICD-10-CM code for an unspecified face injury, initial encounter, and a billable or specific code.
What is the purpose of the ICD-10-CM coding system?
ICD-10-CM codes are used for a number of reasons, including monitoring the quality of care and safety as well as for reimbursement purposes. Following are some of the major uses of ICD-10 codes:
- Monitoring quality of care
- For planning in healthcare services being delivered
- Streamlining operations and performance in various healthcare providers’ management departments.
- Health policy
- Reimbursement purposes (medical billing and coding for the healthcare provider and the insurance payer).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What is the ICD-10 code for injury to face?
ICD-10 Code for injury to face (unspecified) is S09.93. This is a non-billable or non-specific code, meaning it should not be used for reimbursement purposes, as it contains more detailed and multiple sub-category codes. The 2022 edition of this ICD 10 code has been effective since October 1st, 2021.
What is the coding and billing in the ICD-10 code for injury to face?
The ICD-10 code for injury to the face differs based on the kind of injury. For instance, the ICD-10-CM code for fracture of other specified skull and facial bones on the right side is S02.81. Similarly, the ICD-10 code for an unspecified injury to the face is S09.93. Note that both these codes should not be used for reimbursement purposes. At the same time, S09.93XA ICD 10 code for an unspecified injury to the initial face encounter is billable or specific (can be used for reimbursement purposes).
What are some of the most common ICD-10 codes for injury to face errors?
The ICD-10-CM or PCS coding manual is updated every year by the Coordination and Maintenance Committee of the ICD-10-CM/PCS. Note that using the updated and correct codes results in lesser errors. Some of the most common ICD-10 coding errors include
- Missing diagnosis or procedure code
- Using the old or outdated ICD 10 codes
- Human errors (getting confused or using the wrong digit or alphabet).
Avoiding the above-mentioned coding errors can result in improved operations and audit rates.
What does the ICD-10 code for injury to face do?
ICD stands for the International Classification of Diseases. ICD-10-CM is the tenth revision of this coding system that is authorized/published by the World Health Organization (WHO). The ICD-10 codes are used for a number of purposes, including reimbursement (for the services provided by the healthcare provider) and helping in monitoring the quality of the care being provided to the patient. The ICD-10 code for an unspecified injury to the face is S09.93.
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