Top 10 Craziest ICD-10 Codes
The International Classification of Diseases,10th Revision (ICD-10) coding system can be weirdly specific when it comes to the reasons people seek healthcare. Ready for the funniest, craziest ICD-10 codes? From squirrel attacks to spacecraft collisions, we’ve listed our top 10 favorites.
In healthcare, we all need a laugh once in a while. The ICD-10 codes give people in all areas of the medical field a universal language for describing and tracking diseases and injuries. The more you work with medical billing codes, the more bizarre (yet sometimes billable) scenarios you find.
What Are ICD-10 Codes?
Attempts at systematizing diseases, injuries, and causes of death go back to the 1600s (and probably earlier, too). One of the first internationally recognized systems was established in 1893, based on the work of French statistician Jacques Bertillon and his Bertillon Classification of Causes of Death.
In the 19th century, death from causes like “senility” or “la grippe” (the flu or respiratory illness) were common. As the population’s understanding of disease processes became more refined, the need for a comprehensive classification system grew.
In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) addressed that need by publishing the first single-volume ICD, and the system has been expanding ever since. The 10th revision was published in 1992 by WHO and implemented in the U.S. a little over two decades later. It covers everything from rare injuries and social circumstances to places where injuries occurred, such as pools at prisons (which isn’t even one of our top 10 craziest ICD-10 codes!).
How Did Specific ICD-10 Codes Get Added?
More alphanumeric codes were added into modified versions in the system, so these days the total number of codes exceeds 150,000. How did items like “sibling rivalry” and “struck by a macaw” make the cut? Many healthcare professionals have an input, and the process is long and involved.
Though they made the list, it’s hard to find real-life uses for the more obscure codes. We’re betting it’s been a while since you saw a patient suffering from contact with a nonvenomous frog.
Craziest ICD-10 Codes Used in Healthcare
Now that there are so many specific codes in the ICD system, it’s fun to dig deep and uncover the strangest ones. Here’s a list of our top 10 craziest codes, plus a few ideas on how to treat these injuries if you ever happen to see one in the wild.
1. Burn Due to Water Skis on Fire: ICD-10-CM V91.07
Water! Flames! This medical code covers it all. We’re thinking that the injured party must have been having a good time before they went down. Sounds like the kind of stunt that requires some talent to pull off — before it goes wrong, that is.
When it comes to this type of injury, prevention is the best strategy. Encourage patients not to douse their water skis in fuel, and perhaps this situation can be avoided.
2. Activity, Knitting and Crocheting: ICD-10-CM Y93.D1
This is one of the oddest ICD-10 codes in the ”activities” category. Activities are used to note what was taking place when the injury or health condition happened. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. Knitting needles do have points, after all.
3. Other Contact With a Squirrel, Subsequent Encounter: ICD-10-CM W53.29XD
The system needed a separate code for contact with a critter that causes harm and is not a bite. It’s hard to imagine a squirrel causing that much trouble, isn’t it? Apparently this is a repeat encounter with our feisty squirrel, too. (Just kidding — “subsequent encounter” really refers to a follow-up visit with a provider, not a second or third squirrel attack.)
The good news is that squirrel attacks are relatively rare. Run-ins with rodents can cause problems like falls, scratches, and infections. It’s a good idea to ask about bites when you’re talking to your patient about the incident, too.
4. Problems in Relationship With In-Laws: ICD-10-CM Z63.1
Ever gotten into a tiff with the in-laws? You’re not alone. We’re picturing squabbles over the holiday ham. In the 9th Revision a similar category was titled: “Problems with aged parents or in-laws.” Maybe aged parents have been behaving better these days.
5. Walked Into a Wall, Subsequent Encounter: ICD-10-CM W22.01X2
Not to be confused with walked into a lamp post, which is a separate code in the striking against stationary objects set. This code is used more than you might expect! Distracted walking accounts for thousands of ER visits per year, especially now that it’s so common to look at phones while walking.
6. Headache Associated With Sexual Activity: ICD-10-CM G44.82
This is a super-specific reason for getting a headache, making it one of the craziest ICD-10 codes. At least this headache didn’t happen while on flaming water skis. We can hope.
7. Bizarre Personal Appearance: ICD-10-CM R46.1
Here’s one of our favorite funny ICD-10 codes. Halloween comes to mind, right? You can dress up as a gorilla if you’d like, just please don’t slip on a banana peel or you might give an ER nurse with a sense of humor a reason to type in this code.
8. Other Superficial Bite of Other Specified Part of the Neck, Initial Encounter: ICD-10-CM S10.87XA
While we’re on the topic of Halloween — does anything about this bite code make you think about vampire fangs? A nip on the neck, superficial or not, is definitely a reason to seek out a doctor or a nurse. Most providers agree that this code is useful for describing hickeys, so no need to worry about the supernatural.
9. Opera House as the Place of Occurrence: ICD-10-CM Y92.253
The ICD system lists many locations, including bridges, prisons, and farms. It’s no wonder that opera houses are included. Codes can be combined to create a more complete picture of a situation. If this code gets combined with ICD-10-CM V95.43, spacecraft collision, we may have a space opera on our hands.
10. Bitten by a Cow: ICD-10-CM W55.21
Farms can be fun to visit, but not if you get bitten by a cow or pecked by a chicken. Luckily, the ICD-10-CM covers both. A fun fact is that cows lack upper front teeth — they have a section of gum called a dental pad there instead. Should this medical code be titled “gummed by a cow” instead? Sounds messy.
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