ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for hernia
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Hernia, hernial (acquired) (recurrent)”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding hernia
The ICD-10-CM code for hernia is K46.9 (Unspecified abdominal hernia without obstruction or gangrene). The official index lists 114 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on K46.9.
Within K46, choose K46.9 (without obstruction or gangrene) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: with obstruction, without gangrene (K46.0) and with gangrene (K46.1).
It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.
In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 393 (Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC, relative weight 1.5881), DRG 394 (Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC, relative weight 0.9228) and DRG 395 (Other Digestive System Diagnoses without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.6382), in MDC 06 (Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.
More specific hernia codes (official index)
- with
- gangrene
- incarceration
- irreducible
- obstruction
- strangulation
- abdomen, abdominal K46.9 — Unspecified abdominal hernia without obstruction or gangrene
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K46.1 — Unspecified abdominal hernia with gangrene
- obstruction K46.0 — Unspecified abdominal hernia with obstruction, without gangrene
- femoral
- incisional
- inguinal
- specified site NEC K45.8 — Other specified abdominal hernia without obstruction or gangrene
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K45.1 — Other specified abdominal hernia with gangrene
- obstruction K45.0 — Other specified abdominal hernia with obstruction, without gangrene
- umbilical
- wall
- appendix
- bladder (mucosa) (sphincter)
- congenital (female) (male) Q79.51 — Congenital hernia of bladder
- female
- male N32.89 — Other specified disorders of bladder
- brain, congenital
- cartilage, vertebra
- cerebral, congenital
- endaural Q01.8 — Encephalocele of other sites
- ciliary body (traumatic) S05.2 — Ocular laceration and rupture with prolapse or loss of intraocular tissue
- colon
- Cooper's
- crural
- diaphragm, diaphragmatic K44.9 — Diaphragmatic hernia without obstruction or gangrene
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K44.1 — Diaphragmatic hernia with gangrene
- obstruction K44.0 — Diaphragmatic hernia with obstruction, without gangrene
- congenital Q79.0 — Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
- direct (inguinal)
- diverticulum, intestine
- double (inguinal)
- due to adhesions (with obstruction) K56.50 — Intestinal adhesions [bands], unspecified as to partial versus complete obstruction
- epigastric K43.9 — Ventral hernia without obstruction or gangrene
- esophageal hiatus
- external (inguinal)
- fallopian tube N83.4 — Prolapse and hernia of ovary and fallopian tube
- fascia M62.89 — Other specified disorders of muscle
- femoral K41.90 — Unilateral femoral hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K41.40 — Unilateral femoral hernia, with gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K41.40 — Unilateral femoral hernia, with gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K41.41 — Unilateral femoral hernia, with gangrene, recurrent
- obstruction K41.30 — Unilateral femoral hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K41.30 — Unilateral femoral hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K41.31 — Unilateral femoral hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, recurrent
- bilateral K41.20 — Bilateral femoral hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K41.10 — Bilateral femoral hernia, with gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K41.10 — Bilateral femoral hernia, with gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K41.11 — Bilateral femoral hernia, with gangrene, recurrent
- obstruction K41.00 — Bilateral femoral hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K41.00 — Bilateral femoral hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K41.01 — Bilateral femoral hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K41.20 — Bilateral femoral hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K41.21 — Bilateral femoral hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, recurrent
- unilateral K41.90 — Unilateral femoral hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K41.40 — Unilateral femoral hernia, with gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K41.40 — Unilateral femoral hernia, with gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K41.41 — Unilateral femoral hernia, with gangrene, recurrent
- obstruction K41.30 — Unilateral femoral hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K41.30 — Unilateral femoral hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K41.31 — Unilateral femoral hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K41.90 — Unilateral femoral hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K41.91 — Unilateral femoral hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K41.90 — Unilateral femoral hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K41.91 — Unilateral femoral hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, recurrent
- foramen magnum G93.5 — Compression of brain
- congenital Q01.8 — Encephalocele of other sites
- funicular (umbilical)
- spermatic (cord)
- gastrointestinal tract
- Hesselbach's
- hiatal (esophageal) (sliding) K44.9 — Diaphragmatic hernia without obstruction or gangrene
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K44.1 — Diaphragmatic hernia with gangrene
- obstruction K44.0 — Diaphragmatic hernia with obstruction, without gangrene
- congenital Q40.1 — Congenital hiatus hernia
- hypogastric
- incarcerated
- with gangrene
- incisional K43.2 — Incisional hernia without obstruction or gangrene
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K43.1 — Incisional hernia with gangrene
- obstruction K43.0 — Incisional hernia with obstruction, without gangrene
- indirect (inguinal)
- inguinal (direct) (external) (funicular) (indirect) (internal) (oblique) (scrotal) (sliding) K40.90 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K40.40 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, with gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K40.40 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, with gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K40.41 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, with gangrene, recurrent
- obstruction K40.30 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K40.30 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K40.31 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K40.90 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K40.91 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, recurrent
- bilateral K40.20 — Bilateral inguinal hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K40.10 — Bilateral inguinal hernia, with gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K40.10 — Bilateral inguinal hernia, with gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K40.11 — Bilateral inguinal hernia, with gangrene, recurrent
- obstruction K40.00 — Bilateral inguinal hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K40.00 — Bilateral inguinal hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K40.01 — Bilateral inguinal hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K40.20 — Bilateral inguinal hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K40.21 — Bilateral inguinal hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, recurrent
- unilateral K40.90 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K40.40 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, with gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K40.40 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, with gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K40.41 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, with gangrene, recurrent
- obstruction K40.30 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K40.30 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K40.31 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, with obstruction, without gangrene, recurrent
- not specified as recurrent K40.90 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent
- recurrent K40.91 — Unilateral inguinal hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, recurrent
- internal
- inguinal
- interstitial
- intervertebral cartilage or disc
- intestine, intestinal
- intra-abdominal
- iris (traumatic) S05.2 — Ocular laceration and rupture with prolapse or loss of intraocular tissue
- irreducible
- with gangrene
- ischiatic
- ischiorectal
- lens (traumatic) S05.2 — Ocular laceration and rupture with prolapse or loss of intraocular tissue
- linea (alba) (semilunaris)
- Littre's
- lumbar
- lung (subcutaneous) J98.4 — Other disorders of lung
- mediastinum J98.59 — Other diseases of mediastinum, not elsewhere classified
- mesenteric (internal)
- midline
- muscle (sheath) M62.89 — Other specified disorders of muscle
- nucleus pulposus
- oblique (inguinal)
- obstructive
- with gangrene
- obturator
- omental
- ovary N83.4 — Prolapse and hernia of ovary and fallopian tube
- oviduct N83.4 — Prolapse and hernia of ovary and fallopian tube
- paraesophageal
- congenital Q40.1 — Congenital hiatus hernia
- parastomal K43.5 — Parastomal hernia without obstruction or gangrene
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K43.4 — Parastomal hernia with gangrene
- obstruction K43.3 — Parastomal hernia with obstruction, without gangrene
- paraumbilical
- perineal
- Petit's
- postoperative
- pregnant uterus
- prevesical N32.89 — Other specified disorders of bladder
- properitoneal
- pudendal
- rectovaginal N81.6 — Rectocele
- retroperitoneal
- Richter's
- Rieux's, Riex's
- sac condition (adhesion) (dropsy) (inflammation) (laceration) (suppuration) - code by site under Hernia
- sciatic
- scrotum, scrotal
- sliding (inguinal)
- hiatus
- spigelian
- spinal
- strangulated
- with gangrene
- subxiphoid
- supra-umbilicus
- tendon
- Treitz's (fossa)
- tunica vaginalis Q55.29 — Other congenital malformations of testis and scrotum
- umbilicus, umbilical K42.9 — Umbilical hernia without obstruction or gangrene
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K42.1 — Umbilical hernia with gangrene
- obstruction K42.0 — Umbilical hernia with obstruction, without gangrene
- ureter N28.89 — Other specified disorders of kidney and ureter
- urethra, congenital Q64.79 — Other congenital malformations of bladder and urethra
- urinary meatus, congenital Q64.79 — Other congenital malformations of bladder and urethra
- uterus N81.4 — Uterovaginal prolapse, unspecified
- pregnant
- vaginal (anterior) (wall)
- Velpeau's
- ventral K43.9 — Ventral hernia without obstruction or gangrene
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K43.7 — Other and unspecified ventral hernia with gangrene
- obstruction K43.6 — Other and unspecified ventral hernia with obstruction, without gangrene
- recurrent
- incisional K43.2 — Incisional hernia without obstruction or gangrene
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K43.1 — Incisional hernia with gangrene
- obstruction K43.0 — Incisional hernia with obstruction, without gangrene
- specified NEC K43.9 — Ventral hernia without obstruction or gangrene
- with
- gangrene (and obstruction) K43.7 — Other and unspecified ventral hernia with gangrene
- obstruction K43.6 — Other and unspecified ventral hernia with obstruction, without gangrene
- vesical
- congenital (female) (male) Q79.51 — Congenital hernia of bladder
- female
- male N32.89 — Other specified disorders of bladder
- vitreous (into wound) S05.2 — Ocular laceration and rupture with prolapse or loss of intraocular tissue
- into anterior chamber
Common questions about hernia ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for hernia?
- K46.9 — Unspecified abdominal hernia without obstruction or gangrene. More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: K46.9, K46.1, K46.0, K45.8 and others below.
What is the ICD-10 code for ciliary body hernia?
- S05.2 — Ocular laceration and rupture with prolapse or loss of intraocular tissue (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for epigastric hernia?
- K43.9 — Ventral hernia without obstruction or gangrene.
What is the ICD-10 code for fallopian tube hernia?
- N83.4 — Prolapse and hernia of ovary and fallopian tube (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for fascia hernia?
- M62.89 — Other specified disorders of muscle.
What is the ICD-10 code for femoral hernia?
- K41.90 — Unilateral femoral hernia, without obstruction or gangrene, not specified as recurrent.
What is the ICD-10 code for foramen magnum hernia?
- G93.5 — Compression of brain.
Is K46.9 billable?
- Yes. K46.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can K46.9 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict K46.9 as a principal diagnosis.
Is K46.9 a CC or MCC?
- No. K46.9 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.