S21.3
Non-Billable

Open wound of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity

Non-Billable / Non-Specific Code

What is Open wound of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity?

ICD-10-CM S21.3 is the diagnosis code for Open wound of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity. This code falls under the section "Injuries to the thorax" within Chapter 19 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88). It is a non-billable/non-specific ICD-10-CM code that should not be used for reimbursement. A more specific sub-code is required for billing. Medical coders and healthcare providers use this code to document and classify diagnoses in electronic health records, insurance claims, and clinical databases.

💡 Inclusions

Coding Guidelines for S21.3

✅ This Code Includes

  • Open wound of chest with penetration into thoracic cavity

ICD-10-CM Code Hierarchy

Understanding where S21.3 sits in the ICD-10-CM classification helps ensure proper coding:

Current CodeS21.3 — Open wound of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity
Sub-Codes 6 entries
S21.30Unspecified open wound of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityNon-BillableS21.301Unspecified open wound of right front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.302Unspecified open wound of left front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.309Unspecified open wound of unspecified front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.31Laceration without foreign body of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityNon-BillableS21.311Laceration without foreign body of right front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.312Laceration without foreign body of left front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.319Laceration without foreign body of unspecified front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.32Laceration with foreign body of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityNon-BillableS21.321Laceration with foreign body of right front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.322Laceration with foreign body of left front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.329Laceration with foreign body of unspecified front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.33Puncture wound without foreign body of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityNon-BillableS21.331Puncture wound without foreign body of right front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.332Puncture wound without foreign body of left front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.339Puncture wound without foreign body of unspecified front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.34Puncture wound with foreign body of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityNon-BillableS21.341Puncture wound with foreign body of right front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.342Puncture wound with foreign body of left front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.349Puncture wound with foreign body of unspecified front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.35Open bite of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityNon-BillableS21.351Open bite of right front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.352Open bite of left front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillableS21.359Open bite of unspecified front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavityBillable
Related Codes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is S21.3 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

No, S21.3 is a non-billable/non-specific code. You should use a more specific sub-code for billing and reimbursement.

What does S21.3 mean?

S21.3 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for "Open wound of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity". It is used by healthcare providers to classify and document this condition in medical records and insurance claims.

What is the parent code of S21.3?

The parent code of S21.3 is S21 ("Open wound of thorax"). S21.3 provides a more specific classification within this category.

What section is S21.3 in?

S21.3 is located in Section S20-S29 — "Injuries to the thorax" within Chapter 19 of the ICD-10-CM Tabular List.

What are the sub-codes of S21.3?

S21.3 has 6 sub-code(s) that provide more specific detail: S21.30, S21.31, S21.32, S21.33, S21.34 and more.

When should I use S21.3?

Use S21.3 when the patients documented diagnosis matches "Open wound of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity" and the clinical documentation supports this level of specificity. Always verify with the latest ICD-10-CM guidelines and payer requirements.

People Also Ask

What is the ICD-10 code for Open wound of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity?

The ICD-10-CM code for Open wound of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity is S21.3.

Can S21.3 be used for primary diagnosis?

No, S21.3 is non-billable. Use a more specific sub-code for primary diagnosis billing.

What chapter is S21.3 in?

S21.3 is in Chapter 19 of the ICD-10-CM Tabular List.

Is S21.3 valid for 2026?

Yes, S21.3 is a valid ICD-10-CM code for the 2026 fiscal year, subject to official CMS updates.

See Also

← PreviousS21.259Open bite of unspecified back wall of thorax without penetration into thoracic cavityNext →S21.30Unspecified open wound of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity
Code Details
S21.3
Open wound of front wall of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity
Non-Billable / Non-Specific Code
19 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
S20-S29 — Injuries to the thorax
2026 ICD-10-CM