Using the right Read code
When you lodge a claim or update a diagnosis, you need to use a Read code that matches the diagnosis or type of injury. This helps us make sure we're covering the right injuries and to work out the type of support, treatment and rehabilitation your patient can get.
On this page
Choosing the right Read codes
Quick guide: How to use Read codes
ACC and healthcare practitioners deal with lots of different types of injuries and information. That’s why we use Read Codes. A standardised, simplified set of codes that represent all different types of diagnoses and injuries to help keep things clear and simple. Here are the three key steps to using them.
Who can lodge claims for different injuries
You can only lodge claims for specific types of injuries on behalf of your patient. The claim types you can diagnose and lodge must be within your scope of practice.
If the diagnosis is outside of your scope, you can provide initial treatment and complete the ACC45. You'll need to refer your patient to an appropriate health practitioner before we can determine cover.
Chiropractor A and B
If you’re a chiropractor, the injury claims you can lodge and treat are different depending on the type of your annual practicing certificate.
Chiropractor A includes non-spinal or extra-vertebral techniques/therapy (EVT) whilst chiropractor B excludes this.
Acupuncturists
Acupuncturists can't lodge claims. Injured patients should be referred to a medical practitioner or another registered treatment provider for assessment, diagnosis, and claim lodgment.
Find commonly used Read codes by injury type
Abrasions and splinters
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Read code |
Description |
Provider type |
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SD00. |
Abrasion head/neck |
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SD000 |
Abrasion face |
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SD10. |
Abrasion trunk |
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SD101 |
Abrasion chest wall |
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SD20. |
Abrasion upper arm (no infection) |
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SD21. |
Abrasion upper arm (infection) |
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SD30. |
Abrasion lower arm (no infection) |
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SD31. |
Abrasion lower arm (infection) |
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SDA.. |
Multiple superficial injuries/abdomen, lower back and pelvis |
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SD40. |
Abrasion hand (no infection) |
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SD41. |
Abrasion hand (infection) |
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SD46. |
Splinter hand (no infection) |
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SD60. |
Abrasion leg |
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SD602 |
Abrasion knee |
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SD700 |
Abrasion foot (no infection) |
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SD710 |
Abrasion foot (infection) |
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SD810 |
Corneal abrasion |
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Read code |
Description |
Provider type |
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SH0.. |
Burns eye/adnexa |
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SH1.. |
Burns head/neck |
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SH2.. |
Burns trunk |
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SH3.. |
Burns arm (excluding hand) |
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SH4.. |
Burns hand(s)/wrist |
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SH5.. |
Burns lower limb |
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Read code |
Description |
Provider type |
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SE0.. |
Contusion head/neck |
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SE00. |
Contusion forehead |
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SE01. |
Contusion cheek |
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SE02. |
Contusion nose |
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SE03. |
Contusion lip |
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SE05. |
Contusion ear |
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SE09. |
Contusion scalp |
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SE2.. |
Contusion trunk |
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SE20. |
Contusion breast |
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SE21. |
Contusion chest wall |
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SE23. |
Contusion back |
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SE24. |
Contusion genital organs |
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SE3.. |
Contusion upper limb |
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SE30. |
Contusion upper arm/shoulder |
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SE31. |
Contusion elbow/forearm |
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SE32. |
Contusion wrist/hand |
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SE33. |
Contusion finger |
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SE332. |
Contusion thumb/fingernail (haematoma) |
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SE40. |
Contusion hip and thigh |
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SE41. |
Contusion knee and lower leg |
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SE42. |
Contusion ankle and foot |
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SE43. |
Contusion toe |
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SE44. |
Contusion lower limb (multiple sites) |
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Read code |
Description |
Provider type |
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SF110 |
Crush injury back |
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SF203 |
Crush injury upper arm |
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SF22. |
Crush injury wrist or hand |
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SF23. |
Crush injury finger(s) |
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SF231 |
Crush injury thumb (closed) |
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SF233 |
Crush injury finger (open) |
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SF322 |
Crush injury foot (closed) |
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Read code |
Description |
Provider type |
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S42.. |
Dislocation elbow |
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S41.. |
Dislocation/subluxation shoulder |
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S4104 |
Dislocation clavicle |
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S43.. |
Dislocation wrist/metacarpal |
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S44.. |
Dislocation/subluxation finger/thumb |
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S45.. |
Dislocation hip |
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S463. |
Dislocation knee (patella) |
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S465. |
Dislocation knee (not otherwise specified) |
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S48.. |
Dislocation phalanges (foot) |
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S4801 |
Dislocation tarsal bones |
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S4804 |
Dislocation meta-tarsals |
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S490. |
Dislocation cervical spine |
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S4920 |
Dislocation lumbar spine |
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S4942 |
Dislocation sacrum |
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S4G.. |
Dislocation ankle |
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S4J.. |
Dislocation/subluxation other |
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Read code |
Description |
Provider type |
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S030. |
Fracture skull |
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S044. |
Fracture facial bones |
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S102. |
Fracture thoracic spine |
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S105. |
Fracture lumbar spine |
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S106. |
Fracture sacrum |
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S108. |
Fracture coccyx |
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S10B3 |
Fracture ilium |
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S10B4 |
Fracture acetabulum |
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S10B5 |
Fracture pubis |
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S120. |
Fracture rib (closed) |
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S20.. |
Fracture clavicle (closed non-displaced) |
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S224. |
Fracture humerus (closed distal) |
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S2240 |
Fracture elbow |
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S2241 |
Fracture distal humerus, supra-condylar (closed) |
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S226. |
Fracture humerus (closed proximal) |
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S230. |
Fracture proximal radius/ulna (closed) |
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S231. |
Fracture of proximal radius/ulna (open) |
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S232. |
Fracture of shaft of radius/ulna (closed) |
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S233. |
Fracture of shaft of radius/ulna (open) |
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S234. |
Fracture of distal radius/ulna (closed) |
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S2341 |
Fracture colles |
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S235. |
Fracture of distal radius/ulna (open) |
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S2401 |
Fracture scaphoid (closed) |
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S24z. |
Fracture carpal bone |
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S25.. |
Fracture of meta-carpal bone |
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S26.. |
Fracture phalanx-hand |
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S30.. |
Fracture hip/femur |
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S33.. |
Fracture tibia /fibula |
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S34.. |
Fracture ankle |
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S352. |
Fracture tarsal bones/metatarsals (closed) |
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S36.. |
Fracture phalanges (foot closed) |
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S3z2. |
Stress fracture |
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S4F.. |
Fracture knee |
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Read code |
Description |
Provider type |
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F340. |
Carpal tunnel syndrome |
Medical practitioner |
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N211. |
Rotator cuff syndrome |
Medical practitioner |
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N2131 |
Medial epicondylitis (elbow) |
Medical practitioner |
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N2132 |
Lateral epicondylitis (elbow) |
Medical practitioner |
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N2165 |
Prepatellar bursitis |
Medical practitioner |
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N2174 |
Tendonitis achilles |
Medical practitioner |
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N21z2 |
Tendonitis upper/lower limb |
Medical practitioner |
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N220. |
Tenosynovitis upper/lower limb |
Medical practitioner |
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N3371 |
Sudek's atrophy |
Medical practitioner |
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Read code |
Description |
Provider type |
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7G321 |
Avulsion of nail |
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S7122 |
Laceration lung |
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S74z. |
Laceration liver (rupture) |
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S75z. |
Laceration spleen (rupture) |
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S7700 |
Laceration bladder (rupture) |
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S82.. |
Open wound ear |
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S830. |
Open wound scalp |
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S832. |
Open wound nose |
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S8341 |
Open wound cheek |
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S8342 |
Open wound forehead |
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S8343 |
Open wound eyebrow |
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S8344 |
Open wound lip |
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S8345 |
Open wound jaw |
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S836. |
Open wound mouth |
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S85.. |
Open wound chest wall |
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S86.. |
Open wound back |
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S87.. |
Open wound buttock |
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S88.. |
Open wound external genitalia |
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S8z.. |
Open wound head/neck/trunk (not otherwise specified) |
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S90.. |
Open wound shoulder/upper limb |
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S91. |
Open wound elbow/forearm/wrist |
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S92.. |
Open wound hand |
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S93.. |
Open wound finger(s) thumb |
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S935. |
Open wound fingernail |
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SA100 |
Open wound knee |
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SA101 |
Open wound leg |
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SA2.. |
Open wound foot |
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SA3.. |
Open wound toe(s) |
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Cover for MBI is only available from injuries from 1 October 2022
Please include 'MBI' or 'maternal birth injury' in the Additional Injury Comment section in Part D of the ACC45 form. This will ensure claims are processed as quickly as possible.
|
Primary injury |
Read code |
Description |
Provider type |
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Labial, vaginal, vulval, clitoral, cervical, rectal and perineal tears |
L340. |
First degree perineal tear during delivery |
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L341. |
Second degree perineal tear during delivery |
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L342. |
Third degree perineal tear during delivery |
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L343. |
Fourth degree perineal tear during delivery |
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| Levator ani avulsion |
Z.... |
Levator ani avulsion |
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| Obstetric fistula (including vesicovaginal, colovaginal, and ureterovaginal), Buttonhole tear |
K5212 |
Rectovaginal fistula |
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K5207 |
Vesicovaginal fistula |
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| Obstetric haematoma of pelvis |
L345. |
Vulval and perineal haematoma during delivery |
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| Pudendal neuropathy |
SJ6x2 |
Closed injury pudendal nerve |
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| Ruptured uterus during labour |
L351. |
Rupture of uterus during and after labour |
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| Anterior wall prolapse, posterior wall prolapse, or uterine prolapse |
K513. |
Uterovaginal prolapse, complete |
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K512. |
Uterovaginal prolapse, incomplete |
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| Coccyx fracture or dislocation |
S4941 |
Closed dislocation of coccyx |
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S108. |
Closed fracture pelvis, coccyx |
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| Pubic ramus fracture |
S1320 |
Closed fracture pelvis, single pubic ramus |
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| Symphysis pubis capsule or ligament tear |
L356. |
Obstetric trauma damaging pelvic joints and ligaments |
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S138. |
Traumatic rupture of symphysis pubis |
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Read code |
Description |
Provider type |
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SN571 |
Sexual abuse |
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S60.. |
Concussion |
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F542. |
Perforation eardrum tympanic membrane |
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S8363 |
Tooth fracture |
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J0510 |
Accidental loss of teeth |
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M07z. |
Local infection skin/subcut tissue NOS |
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TE532 |
Toxic reaction bee sting |
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TE60. |
Bite (dog) |
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U120. |
Hit struck kicked twisted bitten/scratched by another person |
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M12.. |
Dermatitis (contact) |
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N2124 |
Shoulder impingement |
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SD46 |
Splinter hand (no infection) |
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SG00. |
Foreign body eye |
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SG1.. |
Foreign body ear |
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SG2.. |
Foreign body nose |
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M2y5. |
Foreign body in skin or subcutaneous tissue |
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SG52. |
Foreign body abdomen |
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SGz.. |
Foreign body other |
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N12.. |
Acute back pain – disc |
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N12C0 |
Cervical disc prolapse radiculopathy |
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N12C1 |
Thoracic Disc Prolapse Radiculopathy |
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N12C2 |
Lumbar disc prolapse radiculopathy |
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N141. |
Acute back pain - thoracic |
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N1472 |
Coccydynia |
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J30.. |
Hernia, inguinal |
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J31.. |
Hernia, femoral |
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SN53. |
Allergic reaction unspecified |
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SP047 |
Breakage of a prosthesis (or denture) |
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SP048 |
Loosening of a prosthesis |
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SP049 |
Dislocation of a prosthesis |
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Read code |
Description |
Provider type |
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N131. |
Chronic/recurrent pain (cervical) |
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N142. |
Low back pain, acute pain-lumbar, lumbago |
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N143. |
Sciatica |
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N2264 |
Rupture hand -wrist flexor tendon |
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S460. |
Sprain meniscal tear (medial) |
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S461. |
Sprain meniscal tear (lateral) |
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S50. |
Sprain upper arm/shoulder |
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S500. |
Sprain acromio – clavicular ligament |
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S503. |
Sprain infraspinatus tendon |
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S504. |
Sprain rotator cuff |
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S507 |
Sprain shoulder joint |
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S508. |
Sprain biceps tendon |
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S51. |
Sprain forearm |
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S510. |
Sprain elbow |
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S520. |
Sprain wrist |
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S5204 |
Sprain radial collateral ligament (thumb) |
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S5210 |
Sprain hand |
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S522. |
Sprain thumb |
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S523. |
Sprain finger |
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S524. |
Sprain tendon wrist or hand |
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S53. |
Sprain hip/thigh |
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S533. |
Sprain quadriceps tendon |
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S534. |
Sprain, patella tendon |
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S535. |
Sprain hamstring tendon |
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S54. |
Sprain knee/leg |
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S540. |
Sprain lateral collateral ligament knee |
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S541. |
Sprain medial collateral ligament knee |
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S542. |
Sprain cruciate ligament knee |
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S543. |
Sprain superior tibiofibular |
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S54x1 |
Sprain gastrocnemius |
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S550. |
Sprain ankle |
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S5502 |
Sprain ankle joint lateral |
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S5504 |
Sprain achilles tendon |
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S551. |
Sprain foot |
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S5512 |
Sprain metatarsophalangeal joint |
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S5513 |
Sprain interphalangeal joint |
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S560.. |
Sprain lumbosacral ligament |
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S561. |
Sacroiliac ligament sprain |
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S570. |
Neck sprain |
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S571. |
Sprain thoracic spine |
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S572. |
Sprain lumbar spine |
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S574. |
Sprain coccyx |
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S5Q2. |
Rupture of supraspinatus |
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S5Q4. |
Rupture of bicep tendon |
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S5u1. |
Rupture, hamstring tendon |
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S5u2. |
Rupture, patella tendon |
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S5v0. |
Rupture, achilles tendon |
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S5y3. |
Sprain rib cage |
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Read code |
Description |
Provider type |
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S906. |
Amputation at shoulder |
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S96.. |
Amputation finger |
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S97.. |
Traumatic amputation of arm and hand |
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S97X. |
Traumatic amputation of forearm, level unspecified |
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SA6.. |
Amputation foot |
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SA78. |
Amputation upper leg |
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SA7X. |
Amputation lower leg |
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Find all Read codes
Our Read codes are integrated into our digital services and most practice management systems. You can look them up and add them to your online claim form. Use the Read code that most accurately describes your patient’s injury.
The resources below are extensive and include injury codes that you may be able to provide treatment for but aren't able to diagnose or lodge.
You can also check our list of Read codes by speciality.
For physiotherapy
For chiropractic
For osteopathy
For maternal birth injuries
Includes SNOMED and ICD10 codes. Available from 1 October 2022
Read codes for maternal birth injuries
If you can't find the right Read code
If you can't find a Read code to match your diagnosis, use code ' Z . . . . '
Give us a written diagnosis and we'll find the best-matched code for the injury you described.
Other codes
ICD
ICD codes are commonly used by DHB’s and private hospitals, they're translated to read codes by ACC.
SNOMED
SNOMED Clinical Terms (CT) is a new clinical terminology system, which has been endorsed by the Ministry of Health for use in the health and disability sector. It will replace Read codes in the future.