ICD-10 S11.82XS: Neck laceration with foreign body, sequela

Key Takeaways

S11.82XS is a billable ICD-10-CM code for laceration with foreign body of other specified part of neck, sequela, valid for the 2026 edition effective October 1, 2025.

The 7th character ‘S’ designates a sequela encounter, meaning the visit addresses a late complication from a previously treated neck laceration with foreign body, not the acute wound itself.

S11.82 (without a 7th character) is non-billable. You must append XA (initial), XD (subsequent), or XS (sequela) to submit a valid claim.

Pabau’s claims management software supports accurate ICD-10-CM code entry and documentation workflows, reducing claim errors for trauma and follow-up encounters.

ICD-10 Code S11.82XS is the billable child code for a sequela encounter following a laceration with foreign body of the neck. Coders reach for it when a patient presents with a late-effect condition from a previously healed neck wound that involved a foreign body, rather than the non-billable parent code S11.82.

S11.82XS is billable and valid for HIPAA-covered transactions. This article covers the code’s full official description, 7th character encounter rules, code hierarchy, related sibling codes within S11, and clinical coding guidelines for sequela encounters.

Code details at a glance

The table below summarizes the key administrative facts for S11.82XS according to the CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM web tool.

Official description: Laceration with foreign body of other specified part of neck, sequela

The full official ICD-10-CM description for S11.82XS is: Laceration with foreign body of other specified part of neck, sequela.

This code applies when a patient presents for a follow-up visit to address a condition (a sequela) resulting from a previously treated laceration that involved a foreign body in a neck area not classified to a more specific structure such as the larynx, thyroid, or pharynx.

Approximate synonyms and clinical terms

Coders and clinicians may encounter several alternate descriptions that map to this code. Each refers to the same injury type at a sequela encounter stage.

• Sequela of laceration with foreign body, neck
• Late effect of neck laceration with foreign body
• Cervical soft tissue laceration with foreign body, sequela
• Wound of other specified part of neck with foreign body, sequela
• Neck wound sequela involving retained or previously removed foreign material

The phrase “other specified part of neck” is key. It distinguishes S11.82XS from codes covering the larynx (S11.0), trachea and thyroid (S11.1), pharynx and esophagus (S11.2), and other explicitly named cervical structures.

When the operative or clinical documentation names only “neck” without specifying one of those structures, S11.82 is the correct parent code family.

Understanding the 7th character ‘S’ and sequela encounter type

The 7th character is what makes S11.82XS billable. Without it, the parent code S11.82 cannot be submitted for reimbursement. The AAPC ICD-10-CM code reference defines three encounter types for this code family, each selected based on where the patient is in their treatment course.

In ICD-10-CM, a sequela is not the same as a subsequent encounter. A subsequent encounter (7th character D) covers routine care while healing is still underway. Sequela (7th character S) applies only when the original wound has healed and the patient now presents with a late-effect condition that was caused by it.

S11.82XA vs S11.82XD vs S11.82XS: Choosing the correct 7th character

The most common coding error in this code family is applying ICD-10 Code S11.82XS when the patient is still in active treatment. Sequela is a clinical conclusion, not a time-based default. The injury must be fully healed before ‘S’ is appropriate.

• S11.82XA (Initial encounter): The patient arrives at the emergency department after a workplace accident involving a piece of metal embedded in the posterior neck. The wound is irrigated, the foreign body is removed, and the laceration is repaired. This is the initial encounter, regardless of whether the patient has seen other providers beforehand.
• S11.82XD (Subsequent encounter): The same patient returns five days later for suture removal and a wound inspection. Healing is progressing normally. This is a subsequent encounter: the wound is not yet healed, but active treatment has concluded.
• S11.82XS (Sequela): Six months after the wound healed, the patient returns with a hypertrophic scar at the injury site causing restricted cervical range of motion, or with nerve sensitivity along the scar line. The original laceration is resolved. The complaint is a direct late effect of that healed injury. Use ICD-10 Code S11.82XS for this visit. Pair it with the sequela condition code (e.g., an adverse effect or scar code) as the principal diagnosis, with S11.82XS sequenced after it to provide etiology context.

Accurate 7th character selection also matters for HIPAA-compliant documentation. Practices need the encounter type locked to the correct code at the point of care, not corrected retroactively.

Pabau’s claims management software supports structured ICD-10-CM entry, reducing the risk of submitting the wrong encounter type at the time of billing.

Code hierarchy: S11.82XS within the ICD-10-CM structure

Understanding where S11.82XS sits in the ICD-10-CM classification hierarchy helps coders confirm they have selected the most specific applicable code and understand the broader injury context.

S11.82 is a non-billable parent code. A 7th character extension is required at every level above S11.82XS. Submitting S11.82 without a 7th character will result in claim rejection.

This hierarchy also contains two sibling billable codes: S11.82XA (initial encounter) and S11.82XD (subsequent encounter). These share the same clinical scenario but differ only in encounter type. The same three-way encounter structure applies to other injury sites, including S01.129S.

Related and sibling codes within S11 open wound of neck ICD-10

S11 covers all open wounds of the neck. Choosing the wrong sibling code is common when documentation is ambiguous about foreign body involvement or the specific wound type.

The table below maps the main S11 subcategories to help coders confirm the most accurate code. This is especially relevant for physical therapy practices and rehabilitation settings treating residual effects of neck trauma.

The distinction between S11.81 and S11.82 hinges entirely on documentation. If the clinical note confirms a foreign body was present (glass, metal, wood fragment, or other material), S11.82XS is appropriate for the sequela encounter.

If no foreign body is documented, default to S11.81XS. The same fracture-versus-no-fracture documentation logic determines code selection in S62.232S.

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Coding guidelines for ICD-10 Code S11.82XS sequela encounters

ICD-10-CM Section I.C.19 governs the coding of injuries, and Section I.B.10 covers sequela coding broadly. The guidelines establish several rules that directly affect how S11.82XS is assigned and sequenced. Practices building compliance management workflows around injury codes should be familiar with each of these.

• Sequela code is not used alone. When coding a sequela encounter, the code for the residual condition is sequenced first (e.g., L90.5 for scar, M54.2 for cervicalgia, G54.2 for cervical root disorders). S11.82XS follows as the etiology code, providing the cause of the late-effect condition. Do not list ICD-10 Code S11.82XS as the principal diagnosis in a sequela visit.
• The original injury code takes the ‘S’ extension. The injury code (S11.82XS) always carries the 7th character S when used in sequela coding, even if the wound itself is fully resolved. This is consistent with all traumatic injury sequela patterns in the S00-T88 chapter.
• POA indicator is exempt. S11.82XS is exempt from the Present on Admission (POA) reporting requirement, because sequela conditions by definition arose after the current admission.
• External cause codes may still apply. If the original injury was caused by a specific mechanism (e.g., a work-related accident, a motor vehicle collision), external cause codes from Chapter 20 may be appended for statistical and payer reporting purposes, even during the sequela encounter.
• Do not code both the injury and sequela in the same encounter. Once a condition has transitioned to sequela status, the active injury code (S11.82XA or XD) should no longer be used. Document clearly in the record that the wound is healed before applying XS.

These guidelines align with the WHO ICD-10 classification framework for wound sequela. For international context and code mapping, the WHO ICD-10 browser covers the corresponding international version of this code family, though international versions may differ from the American ICD-10-CM edition.

The same sequela pattern applies to vascular injuries, such as S85.099S.

When is ICD-10 Code S11.82XS used in clinical practice?

S11.82XS is not a high-frequency trauma code. It appears in follow-up care settings, not emergency departments. Recognizing the presentations below prevents coding delays and supports accurate clinical documentation workflows at the point of care.

Clinical scenarios where S11.82XS applies include:

• Hypertrophic or keloid scar formation: A patient who sustained a laceration with glass or metal debris in the posterior cervical region now presents with a raised, painful scar at the healed wound site. The scar code (e.g., L91.0) is the principal diagnosis. S11.82XS provides the injury etiology.
• Cervical nerve sensitivity or neuropathy: Residual dysesthesia or paresthesia along the scar line, consistent with a minor nerve involved in the original laceration. The neuropathy code leads. S11.82XS follows.
• Restricted range of motion (cervical): Adhesion or fibrotic tissue at the healed wound site limiting neck rotation. A musculoskeletal code for the restriction leads the encounter. S11.82XS provides etiology.
• Retained foreign body concern (late discovery): Imaging ordered months after the original wound is healed identifies a radio-opaque fragment not previously detected. If the wound is clinically healed but a retained foreign body is now being managed, coding may involve both a retained foreign body code and S11.82XS depending on payer guidance and clinical documentation.
• Rehabilitation follow-up: Physical therapy or occupational therapy encounters treating residual functional deficits from the original neck laceration, where the wound is documented as healed.

Protecting patient health records during sequela coding encounters is as important as the code selection itself. Sequela records link back to the original injury event and may intersect with workers’ compensation, liability, or insurance subrogation claims, making documentation accuracy especially critical.

Good medical documentation at your practice ensures the injury etiology, current condition, and encounter type are clearly stated and auditable.

Conclusion

Sequela coding requires clinical confirmation, not just a calendar. S11.82XS is the correct code when a patient presents with a late-effect condition from a healed neck laceration that involved a foreign body, and the original wound has fully resolved.

Submitting the parent S11.82 without a 7th character, or using XD instead of XS before confirming wound healing, are the two errors that most often cause claim rejections in this code family.

Pabau’s practice management platform supports accurate ICD-10-CM entry, structured clinical documentation, and billing workflow oversight across trauma follow-up and sequela encounter types. To see how Pabau handles injury code documentation and claims submission for your practice, book a demo.

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