O70.3 Fourth degree perineal laceration during delivery

ICD-10-CM O70.3: Fourth degree perineal laceration during delivery

ICD-10-CM code O70.3 identifies a fourth degree perineal laceration sustained during delivery. This diagnostic concept is classified under the broader parent category of delivery-related perineal lacerations and is semantically typed as an injury or poisoning. Clinically, this severe obstetric injury involves extension through the anal sphincter and into the rectal mucosa. 1 2 4

Plain-language overview

Code O70.3 represents a fourth degree perineal laceration during delivery, a severe obstetric injury extending through the anal sphincter and into the rectal mucosa. 1 4

What this code represents

The terminology record for O70.3 assigns a semantic type of injury or poisoning and maps the code to an active diagnosis concept for a fourth degree perineal laceration during delivery. 1 3

Within the ICD-10-CM hierarchy, O70.3 is a narrower concept under the parent code O70, which encompasses perineal lacerations occurring during delivery. 1

Clinical context

Fourth degree lacerations are clinically grouped with third degree lacerations under the term obstetric anal sphincter injuries, involving complex stepwise repair techniques to restore perineal and rectal tissues. 2

Documentation considerations

Clinical documentation must explicitly confirm whether the perineal tear extends into the rectal mucosa to distinguish a fourth degree laceration from other obstetric anal sphincter injuries. 4

Reviewing clinical documentation is necessary to prevent coding errors, specifically avoiding the interchange of O70.3 with O70.4 or third degree laceration codes. 4

What the sources add

While official terminology records define the code hierarchy and semantic type, clinical literature adds context regarding the complex repair process and associated wound complications for these severe injuries. 1 2

Operational coding guidance distinguishes O70.3 from O70.4 by specifying that O70.3 requires rectal mucosa involvement, whereas O70.4 applies to specific anal sphincter tears without third degree lacerations. 4

Sources

1. ICD-10-CM O70.3 terminology record — National Cancer Institute Enterprise Vocabulary Services; accessed 2026-07-27.
2. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
3. EVS Explore — evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
4. ICD-10 Code O70.4: Anal sphincter tear complicating delivery — pabau.com; accessed 2026-07-27.