| ICD-9 | ICD-10 |
| 3-5 characters | 3-7 characters |
| 14,000 codes | 68,000 approx. |
| Most codes are numeric(exception is E and V codes) | All codes have Alpha and numeric characters. All letters are used except letter ‘U’ |
| Digit 1-Alpha or numeric Digit 2-5-Numeric |
Digit 1-alpha Digit 2-numeric Digit 3-7-alpha or numeric |
| 17 chapters | 21 chapters |
| Injuries classified by type. | Injuries classified by specific site. |
Example: A patient presents to a physician’s office with “ankle sprain.” No other information is offered about the injury or how it happened.
In ICD-9CM the statement is coded as: 845.0 sprains and strains of ankle, unspecified site
In ICD-10CM the same condition is coded as: S93.4- Sprain of ankle this instructs us to use a fifth, sixth, and seventh digit:
S93.4- Sprain of ankle
S93.401- Sprain of unspecified ligament of right ankle
S93.402- Sprain of unspecified ligament of left
S93.409- Sprain of unspecified ligament of unspecified
