ICD code S37.62XA – Contusion of uterus

Key takeaways

S37.62XA is a billable ICD-10-CM code for uterine contusion at an initial (active-treatment) encounter, valid for fiscal year 2025 and 2026.

The 7th character A means active treatment is ongoing, not that it is the patient’s first visit: use D (S37.62XD) once active treatment ends.

External cause codes from the V/W/X/Y series are optional under national ICD-10-CM guidelines but often required by payers. A missing one is a common denial trigger when a payer requires one.

If the patient is pregnant, an O9A.2- code is sequenced first. Report S37.62XA as the additional code identifying the injury once the physician documents it.

ICD-10 Code S37.62XA: Definition and quick-reference summary

ICD-10 Code S37.62XA is the specific, billable ICD-10-CM code for contusion of uterus, initial encounter. It is valid for reimbursement per the CMS ICD-10-CM official code files. It belongs to chapter 19 (Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes) and category S37 (injury of urinary and pelvic organs). Its block is S30-S39, covering injuries to the abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine, pelvis and external genitals.

The table below summarizes the key attributes of the code for quick reference.

Clinical description: What counts as a uterine contusion?

A uterine contusion is bruising of the uterine wall caused by blunt force, where tissue integrity remains intact. No laceration, perforation, or open wound is present. That distinction is what separates contusion of uterus from S37.63XA (laceration of uterus) and S37.69XA (other specified injury of uterus).

Common mechanisms documented in the medical record include motor vehicle collisions, falls with direct abdominal impact, and direct blows to the lower abdomen. The physician’s note must name the mechanism explicitly. A note reading “pelvic pain after MVA” alone does not support ICD-10 Code S37.62XA.

Typical documented signs include lower abdominal tenderness and suprapubic bruising or ecchymosis. Expect imaging findings too, from CT abdomen/pelvis or pelvic ultrasound, showing uterine wall edema or hematoma without disruption. Verify against the CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM web tool if the documentation is ambiguous about injury type.

• Qualifies for S37.62XA: documented uterine bruising or contusion from blunt force, confirmed by a physician diagnosis.
• Does not qualify: pelvic pain without a specific uterine injury diagnosis, or a suspected uterine injury the attending has not confirmed. Obstetric trauma during delivery also routes to O-chapter codes instead.
• CDI query trigger: the record documents blunt abdominal trauma, but the physician notes only “pelvic pain” or “abdominal tenderness.” Neither names the organ or the injury type.

Choosing the 7th character: A, D, or S

The 7th character extension in ICD-10 Code S37.62XA defines the type of encounter, not simply the order of visits. Character A means active treatment is still being provided, regardless of whether this is the patient’s first or fifth appointment. Character D means the injury is receiving routine aftercare. Character S captures sequelae of the original uterine contusion.

Common coder error: switching to S37.62XD at a second visit while active treatment continues. The attending may still be monitoring for internal hemorrhage or deciding whether surgery is needed. Per AAPC ICD-10-CM guidance, active treatment continues until the clinical decision-making around the injury is complete. Keep A until the physician’s documentation clearly signals that active management has ended.

Code hierarchy: Where S37.62XA sits in ICD-10-CM

Tracing ICD-10 Code S37.62XA through its hierarchy helps coders validate the code path and understand adjacent codes they may need to report alongside it. Other chapter 19 injury codes can be checked the same way in our ICD-10-CM code library.

• Chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88)
• Block S30-S39: Injuries to the abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine, pelvis and external genitals
• Category S37: Injury of urinary and pelvic organs
• Subcategory S37.6: Injury of uterus
• Code S37.62: Contusion of uterus
• Full code S37.62XA: Contusion of uterus, initial encounter

The placeholder X in position 6 is required to fill the sixth-character slot before the 7th character extension can be appended. Omitting it produces an invalid code that will fail claim edits.

Codes often confused with S37.62XA

Four neighboring codes are easy to confuse with S37.62XA. The table below shows the key differentiator for each.

When to use S37.62XA versus obstetric trauma codes

S37.62XA applies exclusively to injury episodes unrelated to an obstetric cause. When the patient is pregnant, the claim routes through Chapter 15 instead. The ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines (Section I.C.15.a) direct coders to sequence an O9A.2- code as the principal diagnosis. O9A.2 is “Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium.” Report S37.62XA as the additional code identifying the injury once the physician documents it.

Send a CDI query whenever the record shows a pregnant patient with blunt abdominal trauma. The trigger is a missing physician statement separating the obstetric context from the traumatic injury.

Three checks settle the code for any blunt uterine injury. The flow below puts them in the order a coder meets them in the record.

Companion codes: External cause codes for uterine contusion

ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines Section I.C.20 make external cause reporting optional nationally, but many payers and states require at least one V/W/X/Y code, so add one. That code identifies the mechanism of injury behind S37.62XA. Meeting clean claim requirements before submission prevents a common denial when a payer requires one.

Pick the row that matches the documented mechanism. Add activity and place codes only when the record supports them.

Documentation that supports the code

A defensible claim for ICD-10 Code S37.62XA starts with the physician’s own words. A coder cannot infer a uterine contusion from imaging findings alone. The medical record must contain all of the following to make the code defensible on audit.

• Explicit physician diagnosis: the attending or treating provider must write “uterine contusion” or an equivalent clinical term. “Pelvic pain” or “abdominal bruising” does not map to S37.62XA.
• Mechanism of injury: documented in the history of present illness or emergency department note. It supports medical necessity and the external cause code that payers often require.
• Imaging or operative findings: CT abdomen/pelvis or pelvic ultrasound report describing uterine wall edema, hematoma, or bruising without disruption of the uterine wall.
• Encounter type documentation: clinical notes must show whether active treatment is ongoing (7th character A). Otherwise they should show the patient is in routine follow-up (7th character D).
• Pregnancy status: always document whether the patient is pregnant. If she is, obstetric coding rules change the code sequence. A missing pregnancy status is a CDI query trigger.

Common denial reasons and how to fix them

The table below lists six denial reasons to check for on ICD-10 Code S37.62XA, with the root cause and fix for each. Working through them supports a denial management workflow that closes the loop before accounts age.

Payer and Medicare billing guidance

ICD-10 Code S37.62XA does not have a specific Local Coverage Determination (LCD) or National Coverage Determination (NCD) restricting its use. Claims are generally billable without prior authorization in most payer scenarios.

For inpatient stays, DRG assignment for S37.62XA depends on the principal diagnosis and the comorbidities reported alongside it. Verify the grouping against current CMS IPPS tables rather than assuming it from the code category. Reviewing your electronic remittance advice after each claim cycle identifies payer-specific patterns for this code quickly.

CPT codes commonly billed with S37.62XA

Understanding medical billing fundamentals for trauma cases means knowing which CPT codes pair with S37.62XA. The table below covers the most frequently reported companion procedures, organized by clinical setting.

Coding tips and best practices for ICD-10 Code S37.62XA

A short pre-submission checklist catches each denial reason above before the claim leaves the practice.

• Confirm billable status annually. Verify S37.62XA against the current fiscal year release in the CDC ICD-10-CM code files before each new coding year begins. The code has been stable across recent fiscal years, but annual validation is a minimum standard practice.
• Always append the correct 7th character. Re-read the clinical note to confirm whether active treatment is ongoing (A) or the encounter is routine aftercare (D). Do not switch to D until the physician’s note signals that active management is complete.
• Add at least one external cause code. Map the documented mechanism to the correct V/W/X/Y code before claim submission. Many payers require one, and a missing code is a common denial trigger with those payers.
• Query the physician if only pelvic pain is documented. Do not code to S37.62XA without an explicit diagnosis. Issue a CDI query asking the physician to clarify the specific organ injured and the injury type.
• Check for concurrent pregnancy. If the patient is pregnant, review the obstetric coding rules before sequencing. An O9A.2- code goes first, with S37.62XA as the additional code identifying the injury.
• Sequence correctly when multiple injuries are present. ICD-10-CM guidelines direct you to sequence the most severe injury as principal. In a multi-trauma patient, S37.62XA may be a secondary diagnosis behind a more clinically significant injury.

How Pabau keeps uterine contusion claims clean

Without a system check, a coder learns about a missing 7th character or external cause code only when the denial comes back. By then, the claim needs a correction, a resubmission and another wait for payment.

Pabau, the practice management platform we build, offers cleaner claims management by running validation checks on required claim details before submission. The checks run while the encounter is still open, so the coder can fix a gap before the claim leaves the practice.

Pabau also connects to Claim.MD for eligibility checks and claim status. Your team can confirm coverage before the ED visit is billed, then follow each trauma claim until it is paid. Coders spend their time on CDI queries instead of rework.

Streamline trauma code billing from intake to payment

Pabau runs validation checks on required claim details before submission. It connects to Claim.MD for eligibility checks and claim status, so your team sends cleaner trauma claims.

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Conclusion

Treat S37.62XA as a documentation code first and a billing code second. When the physician’s note names the contusion, the mechanism and the treatment stage, the code holds up on audit and on appeal.

The trade-off is time at the front of the process. A CDI query costs a few minutes before submission, while a denied trauma claim means rework, resubmission and a longer wait for payment.

Book a demo to see how Pabau checks required claim details before a uterine contusion claim leaves your practice.

Continue your research

Need to understand how clearinghouse claim scrubbing works? Medical claims clearinghouse guide explains how clearinghouses validate ICD-10 codes, flag missing companions, and route claims to payers.

Want to reduce denial volume across all your trauma codes? Denial codes in medical billing covers the CARC and RARC reason codes you will see on S37.62XA remittances and how to resolve each one.

Want your trauma coding to hold up on audit? Medical billing compliance guide covers documentation standards and claim integrity practices that apply to injury diagnoses.

Frequently asked questions