Specific code 2011 ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Code 873.8
Other and unspecified open wound of head without complication
  • Short description: Open wound of head NEC.
  • ICD-9-CM 873.8 is a billable medical code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis on a reimbursement claim, however, 873.8 should only be used for claims with a date of service on or before September 30, 2015. For claims with a date of service on or after October 1, 2015, use an equivalent ICD-10-CM code (or codes).
  • You are viewing the 2011 version of ICD-9-CM 873.8.
  • More recent version(s) of ICD-9-CM 873.8: 2012 2013 2014 2015.
Convert to ICD-10-CM: 873.8 converts approximately to:
  • 2015/16 ICD-10-CM S01.90XA Unspecified open wound of unspecified part of head, initial encounter
    Or:
  • 2015/16 ICD-10-CM S09.90XA Unspecified injury of head, initial encounter
Approximate Synonyms
  • Animal bite wound of head
  • Animal bite wound of head and neck
  • Cut of head
  • Cut of head and neck
  • Degloving injury of head
  • Degloving injury of head and neck
  • Dog bite of head
  • Dog bite of head and neck
  • Fishing hook in head
  • Gunshot wound of head
  • Head laceration
  • Head muscle laceration
  • Head tendon laceration
  • Human bite of head
  • Human bite of head and neck
  • Laceration of head
  • Laceration of head and neck
  • Laceration of muscle of head
  • Laceration of tendon of head
  • Nail wound of head
  • Nail wound of head and neck
  • Needle stick injury of head
  • Needle stick injury of head and neck
  • Open animal bite of head
  • Open bite of head
  • Open cat bite of head
  • Open dog bite of head
  • Open human bite of head
  • Open wound of head
  • Open wound of head AND/OR neck
  • Open wound of head without complication
  • Open wound of head, neck and trunk
  • Open wounds involving head with neck
  • Puncture wound of eye region
  • Puncture wound of head
  • Puncture wound of head and neck
  • Stab wound of head
  • Stab wound of head and neck
  • Superficial laceration of head
Applies To
  • Head NOS
ICD-9-CM Volume 2 Index entries containing back-references to 873.8:
  • Avulsion (traumatic) 879.8
    • head (intracranial) NEC - see also Injury, intracranial, with open intracranial wound
      • complete 874.9
      • external site NEC 873.8
  • Wound, open (by cutting or piercing instrument) (by firearms) (cut) (dissection) (incised) (laceration) (penetration) (perforating) (puncture) (with initial hemorrhage, not internal) 879.8
    • head NEC 873.8
      • with intracranial injury - see Injury, intracranial
        • due to or associated with skull fracture - see Fracture, skull
      • complicated 873.9
      • scalp - see Wound, open, scalp
ICD-9-CM codes are used in medical billing and coding to describe diseases, injuries, symptoms and conditions. ICD-9-CM 873.8 is one of thousands of ICD-9-CM codes used in healthcare. Although ICD-9-CM and CPT codes are largely numeric, they differ in that CPT codes describe medical procedures and services. Can't find a code? Start at the root of ICD-9-CM, check the 2011 ICD-9-CM Index or use the search engine at the top of this page to lookup any code.