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ICD-10 Coding for Broken Ear Drum(S09.2, H72, H66.01)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Broken Ear Drum. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Tympanic Membrane PerforationRuptured Ear Drum

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Broken Ear Drum

S09.2Primary Range

Injury of ear, unspecified

Primary range for traumatic tympanic membrane perforations.

Perforation of tympanic membrane

Used for non-traumatic tympanic membrane perforations.

Acute suppurative otitis media with spontaneous rupture of ear drum

Used when perforation is due to acute suppurative otitis media.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
S09.2Injury of ear, unspecifiedUse for traumatic causes of tympanic membrane perforation.
  • Otoscopy showing jagged perforation
  • History of trauma
H72Perforation of tympanic membraneUse for non-traumatic causes of tympanic membrane perforation.
  • Audiometry showing conductive hearing loss
  • Absence of trauma history
H66.01Acute suppurative otitis media with spontaneous rupture of ear drumUse when perforation is due to acute suppurative otitis media.
  • Presence of purulent discharge
  • Acute onset of symptoms

Clinical Decision Support

Always review the patient's clinical documentation thoroughly. When in doubt, choose the more specific code and ensure documentation supports it.

Key Information: ICD-10 code for broken ear drum

Essential facts and insights about Broken Ear Drum

The ICD-10 code for a traumatic broken ear drum is S09.2, while non-traumatic cases use H72.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for broken ear drum

Injury of ear, unspecified
Non-billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Presence of trauma history and jagged perforation

Applicable To

  • Traumatic rupture of tympanic membrane

Excludes

  • Non-traumatic perforation (H72)

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Otoscopy showing jagged perforation
  • History of trauma

Code-Specific Risks

  • Confusion with non-traumatic perforations

Coding Notes

  • Ensure documentation specifies the traumatic nature and mechanism.

Ancillary Codes

Additional codes that should be used in conjunction with the main diagnosis codes when applicable.

Contact with sharp object

W29.0XXA
Use to specify the mechanism of injury.

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions to the primary diagnosis.

Perforation of tympanic membrane

H72
Non-traumatic causes such as chronic otitis media.

Injury of ear, unspecified

S09.2
Traumatic causes with a clear mechanism.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Broken Ear Drum to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code S09.2.

Impact

Clinical: Ambiguity in treatment, Regulatory: Non-compliance with coding standards, Financial: Potential claim denials

Mitigation Strategy

Always specify left, right, or bilateral, Use templates with laterality prompts

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect DRG assignment, Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines, Data Quality: Inaccurate clinical data

Mitigation Strategy

Use S09.2 with appropriate external cause codes.

Impact

Inadequate documentation of trauma mechanism

Mitigation Strategy

Use structured templates to capture all necessary details.

Documentation errors, coding pitfalls, and audit risks are interconnected aspects of medical coding and billing. Addressing all three areas helps ensure accurate coding, optimal reimbursement, and regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ICD-10 coding for Broken Ear Drum, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Broken Ear Drum

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Broken Ear Drum. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Traumatic Ear Drum Perforation

Specialty: Otolaryngology

Required Elements

  • Mechanism of injury
  • Otoscopy findings
  • Audiometry results

Example Documentation

Patient presents with left ear pain post-Q-tip use. Otoscopy shows 3mm perforation. Audiometry confirms conductive loss.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Ear pain with perforation.
Good Documentation Example
3mm jagged perforation in left ear due to Q-tip use. Conductive hearing loss confirmed.
Explanation
Specifies mechanism, size, and audiometry results.

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