O70.21 – Third degree perineal laceration during delivery, IIIa

ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code · Complications of labor and delivery

Billable code

ICD-10-CM code O70.21

Code: O70.21 (claims format: O7021)
Description: Third degree perineal laceration during delivery, IIIa
Billable: Yes – valid for HIPAA-covered transactions
Valid for: Dates of service October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 (FY2027)
Chapter: 15. Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
Block: O60-O77 Complications of labor and delivery
Parent codes: O70 › O70.2

Notes for O70.21

Applicable to:

Third degree perineal laceration during delivery with less than 50% of external anal sphincter (EAS) thickness torn

Notes inherited from parent codes

Instructional notes at a category or block level apply to every code below it.

O70 – Perineal laceration during delivery

Includes:

episiotomy extended by laceration

Excludes1 (not coded here):

obstetric high vaginal laceration alone (O71.4)

O70.2 – Third degree perineal laceration during delivery

Applicable to:

Perineal laceration, rupture or tear during delivery as in O70.1, also involving anal sphincter
Perineal laceration, rupture or tear during delivery as in O70.1, also involving rectovaginal septum
Perineal laceration, rupture or tear during delivery as in O70.1, also involving sphincter NOS

Excludes1 (not coded here):

anal sphincter tear during delivery without third degree perineal laceration (O70.4)
perineal laceration involving anal or rectal mucosa (O70.3)

Index terms for O70.21

Entries in the ICD-10-CM alphabetic index that lead to this code:

Related codes in O70.2

Frequently asked questions

What is ICD-10 code O70.21?

O70.21 is the ICD-10-CM code for third degree perineal laceration during delivery, IIIa, in the block O60-O77 (Complications of labor and delivery).

Is O70.21 a billable code?

Yes. O70.21 is a billable/specific code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.

What category does O70.21 belong to?

It belongs to category O70 – Perineal laceration during delivery.

Source: CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM FY2027 code files, tabular list and index. Reference only – code assignment must follow the official ICD-10-CM guidelines and documentation in the medical record.