ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

H72.0Central perforation of tympanic membrane

Not billable — use a more specific code

H72.0 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 H72.0

H72.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for central perforation of tympanic membrane. It belongs to category H72 (perforation of tympanic membrane), block H65-H75 (diseases of middle ear and mastoid) 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 H72 (perforation of tympanic membrane), H72.0 is specifically for central perforation of tympanic membrane. Related codes cover attic perforation of tympanic membrane (H72.1), other marginal perforations of tympanic membrane (H72.2), other perforations of tympanic membrane (H72.8) and unspecified perforation of tympanic membrane (H72.9).

To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: H72.00 (unspecified ear), H72.01 (right ear), H72.02 (left ear) and H72.03 (bilateral).

Code first: any associated otitis media (H65.-, H66.1-, H66.2-, H66.3-, H66.4-, H66.9-, H67.-).

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 H72.0

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to H72.0.

› From H72 Perforation of tympanic membrane

Includes

persistent post-traumatic perforation of ear drum
postinflammatory perforation of ear drum

Excludes1

acute suppurative otitis media with rupture of the tympanic membrane (H66.01-)
traumatic rupture of ear drum (S09.2-)

Code first

any associated otitis media (H65.-, H66.1-, H66.2-, H66.3-, H66.4-, H66.9-, H67.-)

Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 8: Diseases of the ear and mastoid process.

Alphabetic index entries

1 entries

Terms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to H72.0.

Perforation, perforated (nontraumatic) (of) › tympanum, tympanic (membrane) (persistent post-traumatic) (postinflammatory) › central

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 H72.0

Is H72.0 billable?: No. H72.0 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.