T81.31 Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified

✓ Billable ICD-10-CM 2026
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The ICD-10-CM code for Disruption of external operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified is T81.31 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.

Classification

Section
T80-T88: Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified (T80-T88)
Category T81
95 codes (80 billable)
FY2026 Status
Stable since FY2024

Also Known As

ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to T81.31:

  • Burst stitches or sutures (complication of surgery)
  • Suture › burst (in operation wound)
  • Burst stitches or sutures (complication of surgery) › external operation wound
  • Dehiscence (of) › operation wound NEC
  • Dehiscence (of) › closure of › mucosa
  • Dehiscence (of) › closure of › cornea
  • Dehiscence (of) › closure of › skin and subcutaneous tissue (full-thickness) (superficial)
  • Dehiscence (of) › operation wound NEC › external operation wound (superficial)
Excludes1
Not coded here. These conditions should NOT be coded together with T81.31.
  • dehiscence of amputation stump (T87.81)

Inclusion Terms

  • Dehiscence of operation wound NOS
  • Disruption of operation wound NOS
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of cornea
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of mucosa
  • Disruption or dehiscence of closure of skin and subcutaneous tissue
  • Full-thickness skin disruption or dehiscence
  • Superficial disruption or dehiscence of operation wound

Official Coding Guidelines

Sequence blood vessel/nerve injury first (fragment)

injury is to the blood vessels or nerves, that injury should be sequenced first.

— ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026, Section I.C.19.b.2
Do not assign injury codes for iatrogenic injuries; code complication

3) Iatrogenic injuries Injury codes from Chapter 19 should not be assigned for injuries that occur during, or as a result of, a medical intervention. Assign the appropriate complication code(s).

— ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026, Section I.C.19.b.3

Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026

References

Related Codes

Parent Code

T81 Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified

Related Codes in T81

T81 Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified T81.1 Postprocedural shock T81.10 Postprocedural shock unspecified T81.11 Postprocedural cardiogenic shock T81.12 Postprocedural septic shock T81.19 Other postprocedural shock T81.3 Disruption of wound, not elsewhere classified T81.30 Disruption of wound, unspecified T81.32 Disruption of internal operation (surgical) wound, not elsewhere classified T81.320 Disruption or dehiscence of gastrointestinal tract anastomosis, repair, or closure T81.321 Disruption or dehiscence of closure of internal operation (surgical) wound of abdominal wall muscle or fascia T81.328 Disruption or dehiscence of closure of other specified internal operation (surgical) wound T81.329 Deep disruption or dehiscence of operation wound, unspecified T81.33 Disruption of traumatic injury wound repair T81.4 Infection following a procedure T81.40 Infection following a procedure, unspecified T81.41 Infection following a procedure, superficial incisional surgical site T81.42 Infection following a procedure, deep incisional surgical site T81.43 Infection following a procedure, organ and space surgical site T81.44 Sepsis following a procedure
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Reviewed by Prajwal Shrestha, CPC, CRC
Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC) · AAPC Member ID 01997614 · About · Editorial policy · Content last reviewed: 2025-10-01

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