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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

T71.21Asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth

Not billable — use a more specific codeRequires 7th character

T71.21 is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself. Choose one of the 3 more specific codes beneath it and add the required 7th character.

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 T71.21

T71.21 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth. It belongs to category T71 (asphyxiation), block T66-T78 (other and unspecified effects of external causes) and chapter 19 (injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 3 subcodes must be used instead.

Within T71.2 (asphyxiation due to systemic oxygen deficiency due to low oxygen content in ambient air), T71.21 is specifically for asphyxiation due to cave-in or falling earth. Related codes cover due to unspecified cause (T71.20), being trapped in a car trunk (T71.22), being trapped in a (discarded) refrigerator (T71.23) and being trapped in other low oxygen environment (T71.29).

Codes in this range require a 7th character: A for initial encounter, D for subsequent encounter and S for sequela. Use placeholder "X" characters to fill any empty positions before the 7th character.

Use an additional code for any associated cataclysm (X34-X38).

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

7th character

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T71

Coding notes

Use additional codeAdd a secondary code to fully describe the condition
  • code for any associated cataclysm (X34-X38)

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to T71.21.

› From T71 Asphyxiation
Excludes1
  • acute respiratory distress (syndrome) (J80)
  • anoxia due to high altitude (T70.2)
  • asphyxia NOS (R09.01)
  • asphyxia from carbon monoxide (T58.-)
  • asphyxia from inhalation of food or foreign body (T17.-)
  • asphyxia from other gases, fumes and vapors (T59.-)
  • respiratory distress (syndrome) in newborn (P22.-)

Broader instructions also apply from T66-T78 Other and unspecified effects of external causes and Chapter 19: Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.

Alphabetic index entries

1 entries

Terms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to T71.21.

Codes whose notes reference T71.21

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about T71.21

Is T71.21 billable?

No. T71.21 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.