ICD-10 Code S37.502S: Fallopian Tube Injury Guide

Key takeaways

S37.502S is a billable ICD-10-CM code for unspecified injury of the fallopian tube, bilateral, sequela, valid for FY2026 claim submission.

The 7th character S designates sequela, also called a late effect. Use it when treating a condition that is a direct consequence of a prior fallopian tube injury, not the active injury itself.

S37.502 without the 7th character is non-billable; coders must append A, D, or S to submit a valid claim.

Practice management software like Pabau supports ICD-10-CM code lookup and documentation workflows for pelvic and reproductive health practices.

ICD-10 Code S37.502S: Code details at a glance

ICD-10 Code S37.502S is a billable ICD-10-CM code for unspecified injury of the fallopian tube, bilateral, sequela. Importantly, ICD-10-CM diagnostic coding requires a full seven characters for all injury codes in the S37 block. Therefore, S37.502S is the complete, billable form documented as a sequela. Below is the structured reference data for this code.

What does ICD-10 Code S37.502S mean? Breaking down the code

Each character in ICD-10 Code S37.502S carries specific clinical and administrative meaning. Consequently, understanding the segment structure helps coders apply the code accurately and avoid documentation mismatches that lead to payer denials.

The bilateral designation (6th character: 2) is clinically significant. Specifically, it distinguishes this code from S37.501S, which applies to unilateral fallopian tube injury. When only one tube is affected, or laterality is not specified, a different code in the S37.5xx family applies.

Understanding the 7th character S: sequela in ICD-10-CM

Incorrect 7th character assignment is one of the most common causes of claim denial for injury codes. In fact, the difference between A, D, and S is not just administrative – it reflects the phase of care and must match clinical documentation precisely. As outlined in the CMS ICD-10-CM official guidelines, each 7th character extension carries a distinct meaning:

Key distinction for S37.502S: the 7th character S does not mean the patient still has the original injury. Rather, it means the current encounter is for a condition caused by that prior injury. In other words, the original fallopian tube trauma has resolved. The patient now presents with a sequela, such as pelvic adhesions or tubal occlusion resulting from the past bilateral injury.

When coding a sequela of a fallopian tube injury, the residual condition is listed first, followed by the sequela code. For example, a patient presenting with bilateral tubal occlusion caused by prior bilateral fallopian tube trauma has the occlusion code listed first, then S37.502S. Similarly, the same sequencing rule applies to O94, which covers sequelae of pregnancy complications.

Clinical context: injury of the fallopian tube

Fallopian tube injuries are most commonly encountered in the context of pelvic trauma, surgical complications, or procedures affecting the female reproductive tract. As a result, in OB/GYN practice management settings, these injuries require precise coding to reflect both laterality and the phase of care accurately.

Common causes of bilateral fallopian tube injury that may eventually require sequela coding include:

• Blunt abdominal or pelvic trauma (motor vehicle accidents, falls from height)
• Penetrating pelvic injuries
• Surgical complications during laparoscopic or open pelvic procedures
• Ectopic pregnancy rupture with bilateral involvement
• Pelvic inflammatory disease sequelae involving both tubes (where an external cause is documented)

The “unspecified” component of S37.502S indicates that the medical record does not document the specific type of injury (e.g. laceration, contusion, or blast injury). However, when the injury type is documented, more specific codes within the S37.5xx family should be used. For instance, practitioners working in fertility clinic software environments frequently encounter sequela coding for prior tubal injuries affecting reproductive outcomes.

S37.502S in the ICD-10-CM code hierarchy

Understanding where ICD-10 Code S37.502S sits within the broader classification helps coders navigate the tabular list. Additionally, it helps identify when a parent or sibling code is more appropriate. For reference, the CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM web tool reflects this hierarchy in the FY2026 tabular list.

The S37 block covers injuries across multiple pelvic and urinary structures. Specifically, fallopian tube injuries fall under S37.5, which is subdivided by injury type and laterality. Therefore, coders should always verify the appropriate subcategory when the documented injury is more specific than “unspecified.” Furthermore, the same 7th-character convention governs sequela codes outside the pelvic organs, such as S25.509S for intercostal vessel injury.

Related codes: S37.5xx family and adjacent pelvic organ codes

Selecting the most specific code within the S37.5xx family requires careful review of the clinical documentation for injury type and laterality. To illustrate the full range of options, the table below maps the S37.502 family alongside adjacent fallopian tube injury codes.

To maintain coding accuracy, verify current code validity annually using the AAPC Codify ICD-10-CM lookup or the CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM Browser Tool referenced above. This is necessary because code additions and revisions occur with each FY update, effective October 1.

Coding guidelines and documentation requirements for S37.502S

Accurate sequela coding depends on documentation that establishes a clear causal link between the prior injury and the current condition. Specifically, ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines Section I.C.19 governs the use of sequela in injury coding. Therefore, effective documentation workflows should capture all of the following before a sequela code is submitted.

Sequencing requirements

When coding a sequela of a fallopian tube injury, the sequencing rule is clear. First, the code for the residual condition, the current presenting problem, is listed first. Then, S37.502S follows as the secondary code, describing the nature and origin of the causative injury.

• First: Code for the residual condition (e.g. adhesions, tubal occlusion, infertility)
• Second: S37.502S – to identify the nature of the original bilateral fallopian tube injury
• Additional: External cause code (if applicable) to identify the mechanism of the original injury

Documentation the record must support

Coders and clinicians using clinical documentation tools should ensure the medical record explicitly addresses each of the following points before S37.502S is assigned:

• History of bilateral fallopian tube injury (documented in prior notes, operative records, or discharge summaries)
• Current presenting condition identified as a direct consequence of that prior injury
• Bilateral involvement confirmed (not unilateral or unspecified laterality)
• Injury type classified as unspecified (if the specific type is documented – laceration, contusion – a more specific S37.5xx code should be used)
• Phase of care is sequela – active injury treatment is complete

Practices managing ongoing documentation for complex pelvic cases benefit from structured record systems that flag incomplete injury history. For this reason, Pabau’s compliance management features support audit-ready clinical records for exactly these scenarios.

Billing and reimbursement considerations for ICD-10 Code S37.502S

S37.502S is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code accepted by Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial payers for claim submission in FY2026. However, acceptance of the code does not guarantee reimbursement – payer-specific policies and documentation requirements determine coverage. As a result, practices using documentation and billing tools can reduce denial risk. In particular, keeping injury history, encounter type, and laterality organized helps a coder validate the claim against payer policy.

Key billing considerations

• HIPAA compliance: ICD-10-CM is mandated for all HIPAA-covered transactions; S37.502S must be submitted in its full 7-character form on electronic claims
• Payer LCD review: Some payers require additional documentation for sequela claims, particularly when the residual condition involves fertility or reproductive outcomes
• Medical necessity: The residual condition coded first must establish medical necessity for the encounter; S37.502S alone does not drive payment – it supports the primary diagnosis
• External cause codes: Adding the external cause (mechanism and place of original injury) strengthens the clinical narrative and reduces the likelihood of medical review requests
• Annual code validation: Verify that S37.502S remains active and unchanged each October 1 when the new FY ICD-10-CM code set takes effect

CMS’s ICD-10-CM coding and billing resources, referenced above, cover detailed coverage policies by payer. Additionally, using digital intake forms that capture complete injury history at the point of care reduces the missing documentation that triggers retrospective denials on sequela claims.

How Pabau supports pelvic injury coding and documentation

Coding a bilateral fallopian tube sequela accurately depends on documentation captured at several points. Specifically, those points are the original injury record, the encounter type, and the residual condition driving the current visit. In practice, many practices piece this together from paper notes, prior EMR exports, and staff memory, which is where 7th-character errors creep in.

Practice management software like Pabau keeps injury history, encounter type, and laterality together in one patient record. Furthermore, digital intake forms and structured clinical notes capture that history at the point of care. As a result, the details a coder needs for a sequela case like S37.502S are already documented, instead of reconstructed later by a biller.

Consequently, the result is fewer incomplete injury records reaching the coding stage, and less time spent chasing missing documentation before a claim goes out.

Manage pelvic health and OB/GYN documentation in one place

Pabau keeps injury history, encounter details, and clinical notes organized for pelvic and reproductive health practices. Coders get the documentation they need for accurate ICD-10-CM sequela coding.

Book a demo

Conclusion

Missing or incorrect 7th characters on pelvic organ injury codes remain a persistent source of claim rejections. Therefore, S37.502S is the complete, billable code for unspecified bilateral fallopian tube injury in the sequela phase. It applies only when documentation clearly links the current residual condition to the prior injury and confirms active treatment has ended.

Pabau keeps that documentation – injury history, encounter type, and laterality – organized in one patient record. As a result, coders have what they need at the point of billing instead of chasing details across separate systems. Book a demo to see how Pabau supports ICD-10-CM documentation for pelvic and reproductive health practices.

Continue your research

Coding obstetric complications alongside pelvic organ injuries? O67.8 documents other intrapartum hemorrhage, a related OB/GYN billing scenario.

Need the code for obstructed labor? O66.9 covers unspecified obstructed labor, another OB/GYN diagnosis requiring precise documentation.

Want to reduce administrative errors in an OB/GYN practice? Scheduling patients effectively covers eight strategies for cutting no-shows and scheduling conflicts.

Working with other sequela injury codes? S31.607S applies the same 7th-character sequela logic to an abdominal wall open wound.

Coding musculoskeletal conditions outside the injury chapter? M85.9 covers unspecified disorders of bone density and structure.

Frequently asked questions