ICD-10 Code for Outer Calf Laceration, Left Leg
For a laceration on the outer (lateral) calf of the left leg, use ICD-10-CM code S81.812A (laceration without foreign body of left lower leg, initial encounter). 1
Code Structure and Specificity
The ICD-10-CM system requires precise anatomical documentation for lower leg injuries between the knee and ankle. 1, 2 The code structure includes:
- Anatomical location: Lower leg (calf region between knee and ankle) 1
- Laterality: Left side specification 3, 2
- Encounter type: Seventh character modifier indicating visit status 1
Seventh Character Modifiers
The appropriate seventh character depends on the clinical encounter: 1
- "A" = Initial encounter (first treatment for acute injury)
- "D" = Subsequent encounter (routine healing phase follow-up)
- "S" = Sequela (long-term complications or late effects)
Additional Coding Considerations
If infection develops, add a secondary code for local skin infection (L08.9) to capture the complication. 1 This is critical because ICD-10 captures wound complications more accurately than its predecessor, improving tracking during episodes of care. 3
For traumatic wounds, the key distinction is that this represents an acute traumatic injury requiring trauma coding, not a chronic wound or ulcer code. 1 Do not confuse this with diabetic foot ulcer codes or chronic wound classifications. 4
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not use chronic wound codes for acute traumatic lacerations 1
- Always specify laterality (left vs. right) as ICD-10 requires this detail, unlike ICD-9 which did not capture laterality 3, 2
- Update the seventh character appropriately for follow-up visits to "D" during healing 1
- Add infection codes separately if wound becomes infected rather than trying to capture everything in one code 1