Z18Non-billableSave
Z18 - Retained foreign body fragments
ICD-10-CM Chapter 21: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services · Z18 Retained foreign body fragments (Z18) · Top-level category · FY2027
Coding Guidance
Z18 is a non-billable heading. Report one of the 6 more specific codes below.
Includes, Excludes and Coding Notes
IncludesFrom Z18
Conditions this code covers.
- embedded fragment (status)
- embedded splinter (status)
- retained foreign body status
Excludes 1 — Not Coded HereFrom Z18
Mutually exclusive: these conditions are never reported together with this code.
- artificial joint prosthesis status (Z96.6-)
- foreign body accidentally left during a procedure (T81.5-)
- foreign body entering through orifice (T15-T19)
- in situ cardiac device (Z95.-)
- organ or tissue replaced by means other than transplant (Z96.-, Z97.-)
- organ or tissue replaced by transplant (Z94.-)
- personal history of retained foreign body fully removed Z87.821
- superficial foreign body (non-embedded splinter) - code to superficial foreign body, by site
NotesFrom Chapter Z00-Z99
Instructional notes from the ICD-10-CM tabular list.
- Z codes represent reasons for encounters. A corresponding procedure code must accompany a Z code if a procedure is performed. Categories Z00-Z99 are provided for occasions when circumstances other than a disease, injury or external cause classifiable to categories A00-Y89 are recorded as 'diagnoses' or 'problems'. This can arise in two main ways:
- (a) When a person who may or may not be sick encounters the health services for some specific purpose, such as to receive limited care or service for a current condition, to donate an organ or tissue, to receive prophylactic vaccination (immunization), or to discuss a problem which is in itself not a disease or injury.
- (b) When some circumstance or problem is present which influences the person's health status but is not in itself a current illness or injury.
More Specific Codes (6)
Chapter Information
Chapter 21: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
Range: Z00-Z99
View full chapterRelated ICD-10 Codes
More specific codes for Z18
Other categories in this chapter
Codes at the same level as Z18
- Encounter for general examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosisZ00
- Encounter for other special examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosisZ01
- Encounter for administrative examinationZ02
- Encounter for medical observation for suspected diseases and conditions ruled outZ03
- Encounter for examination and observation for other reasonsZ04
- Encounter for observation and evaluation of newborn for suspected diseases and conditions ruled outZ05
- Encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment for malignant neoplasmZ08
- Encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment for conditions other than malignant neoplasmZ09
- Encounter for screening for infectious and parasitic diseasesZ11
- Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasmsZ12
- Encounter for screening for other diseases and disordersZ13
- Genetic carrierZ14
- Genetic susceptibility to diseaseZ15
- Resistance to antimicrobial drugsZ16
- Estrogen, and other hormones and factors receptor statusZ17
- Hormone sensitivity malignancy statusZ19
- Contact with and (suspected) exposure to communicable diseasesZ20
- Asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection statusZ21
- Carrier of infectious diseaseZ22
- Encounter for immunizationZ23
- Immunization not carried out and underimmunization statusZ28
- Encounter for other prophylactic measuresZ29
- Encounter for contraceptive managementZ30
- Encounter for procreative managementZ31
- Encounter for pregnancy test and childbirth and childcare instructionZ32
- Pregnant stateZ33
- Encounter for supervision of normal pregnancyZ34
- Encounter for antenatal screening of motherZ36
- Outcome of deliveryZ37
- Liveborn infants according to place of birth and type of deliveryZ38
- Encounter for maternal postpartum care and examinationZ39
- Weeks of gestationZ3A
- Encounter for prophylactic surgeryZ40
- Encounter for procedures for purposes other than remedying health stateZ41
- Encounter for plastic and reconstructive surgery following medical procedure or healed injuryZ42
- Encounter for attention to artificial openingsZ43
- Encounter for fitting and adjustment of external prosthetic deviceZ44
- Encounter for adjustment and management of implanted deviceZ45
- Encounter for fitting and adjustment of other devicesZ46
- Orthopedic aftercareZ47
49 more in this chapter.