ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code
H61.3Acquired stenosis of external ear canal
H61.3 is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself. Choose one of the 4 more specific codes beneath it.
Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data
About H61.3
H61.3 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for acquired stenosis of external ear canal. It belongs to category H61 (other disorders of external ear), block H60-H62 (diseases of external ear) and chapter 8 (diseases of the ear and mastoid process). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 4 subcodes must be used instead.
Within H61 (other disorders of external ear), H61.3 is specifically for acquired stenosis of external ear canal. Related codes cover Chondritis and perichondritis of external ear (H61.0), noninfective disorders of pinna (H61.1), impacted cerumen (H61.2), other specified disorders of external ear (H61.8) and disorder of external ear, unspecified (H61.9).
To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: H61.30 (unspecified), H61.31 (secondary to trauma), H61.32 (secondary to inflammation and infection) and H61.39 (canal).
Don't report H61.3 together with the conditions in its Excludes1 note: postprocedural stenosis of external ear canal (H95.81-).
It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.
Specific codes under H61.3
- H61.30Acquired stenosis of external ear canal, unspecified
- H61.301Acquired stenosis of right external ear canal, unspecifiedBillable
- H61.302Acquired stenosis of left external ear canal, unspecifiedBillable
- H61.303Acquired stenosis of external ear canal, unspecified, bilateralBillable
- H61.309Acquired stenosis of external ear canal, unspecified, unspecified earBillable
- H61.31Acquired stenosis of external ear canal secondary to trauma
- H61.311Acquired stenosis of right external ear canal secondary to traumaBillable
- H61.312Acquired stenosis of left external ear canal secondary to traumaBillable
- H61.313Acquired stenosis of external ear canal secondary to trauma, bilateralBillable
- H61.319Acquired stenosis of external ear canal secondary to trauma, unspecified earBillable
- H61.32Acquired stenosis of external ear canal secondary to inflammation and infection
- H61.321Acquired stenosis of right external ear canal secondary to inflammation and infectionBillable
- H61.322Acquired stenosis of left external ear canal secondary to inflammation and infectionBillable
- H61.323Acquired stenosis of external ear canal secondary to inflammation and infection, bilateralBillable
- H61.329Acquired stenosis of external ear canal secondary to inflammation and infection, unspecified earBillable
- H61.39Other acquired stenosis of external ear canal
Coding notes
- Collapse of external ear canal
- postprocedural stenosis of external ear canal (H95.81-)
Notes that apply from higher levels
Instructions written at a parent level also apply to H61.3.
Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 8: Diseases of the ear and mastoid process.
Code history
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
- 2027
- FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
- No changes since FY2016.
Common questions about H61.3
Is H61.3 billable?
- No. H61.3 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.