Dog Bite ICD-10-CM codes

A bite that breaks the skin is an open wound, coded with the open bite code for the site (the fifth character 5 in the open wound subcategories). The most common dog bite sites: hand S61.45- (S61.451A right, S61.452A left, S61.459A unspecified), finger S61.25- (S61.259A unspecified finger without nail damage), forearm S51.85-, upper arm S41.15-, lower leg S81.85-, thigh S71.15-, toe S91.15-, cheek S01.45-, lip and oral cavity S01.55-, other part of the head S01.85XA, and front wall of the thorax S21.15-. Each takes a seventh character A initial, D subsequent, or S sequela. A bite that does not break the skin is a superficial bite in the S00 to S90 superficial injury categories, for example S80.871A for the right lower leg.

The injury code says nothing about the animal, so add the external cause code from chapter 20 on the initial encounter: W54.0XXA bitten by dog, or W55.01XA bitten by cat. External cause codes are reported for every encounter for which the injury is treated, using the matching seventh character. Add a place of occurrence code (Y92) and, when documented, an activity code.

Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is reported with Z20.3 (contact with and suspected exposure to rabies). A tetanus booster given at the visit is Z23. When the bite becomes infected, add the infection code: cellulitis L03.- by site (L03.113 right upper limb) or Pasteurella infection A28.0 when cultured. Delayed primary closure or wound checks are D encounters with the same open bite code.