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ICD-10-CM 2027

ICD-10 code for ear injury

S09.91

Unspecified injury of ear

Header — needs a more specific code

From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Injury › ear (auricle) (external) (canal)”. Page updated September 29, 2026.

About coding ear injury

The ICD-10-CM code for ear injury is S09.91 (Unspecified injury of ear). The official index lists 2 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on S09.91.

Within S09.9 (unspecified injury of face and head), S09.91 is specifically for unspecified injury of ear. Related codes cover head (S09.90), nose (S09.92) and face (S09.93).

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.

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

More specific ear injury codes (official index)

  • abrasion
  • bite
  • blister
  • bruise
  • contusion
  • external constriction
  • hematoma
  • inner
  • laceration
  • middle S09.30 — Unspecified injury of middle and inner ear
  • blast
  • specified NEC S09.39 — Other specified injury of middle and inner ear
  • puncture
  • superficial

Common questions about ear injury ICD-10 codes

What is the ICD-10 code for ear injury?

S09.91 — Unspecified injury of ear (a header code; report a more specific subcode). More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: S09.30, S09.39.

What is the ICD-10 code for middle ear injury?

S09.30 — Unspecified injury of middle and inner ear (header code; choose a more specific subcode).

Is S09.91 billable?

No. S09.91 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.