ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for postoperative wound infection
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Infection, infected, infective (opportunistic) › postoperative wound”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding postoperative wound infection
The ICD-10-CM code for postoperative wound infection is T81.49 (Infection following a procedure, other surgical site). The official index lists 4 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on T81.49.
Within T81.4, choose T81.49 (other surgical site) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: unspecified (T81.40), superficial incisional surgical site (T81.41), deep incisional surgical site (T81.42), organ and space surgical site (T81.43) and sepsis following a procedure (T81.44).
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 adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5).
More specific postoperative wound infection codes (official index)
- surgical site
- deep incisional T81.42 — Infection following a procedure, deep incisional surgical site
- organ and space T81.43 — Infection following a procedure, organ and space surgical site
- specified NEC T81.49 — Infection following a procedure, other surgical site
- superficial incisional T81.41 — Infection following a procedure, superficial incisional surgical site
Common questions about postoperative wound infection ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for postoperative wound infection?
- T81.49 — Infection following a procedure, other surgical site (a header code; report a more specific subcode). More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: T81.42, T81.43, T81.49, T81.41.
Is T81.49 billable?
- No. T81.49 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.