DIFFERENCE IN ICD-9 AND ICD-10

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