S60.32 Blister (nonthermal) of thumb

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S60.32: Blister (nonthermal) of thumb

ICD-10-CM code S60.32 identifies a nonthermal blister of the thumb, classified under the broader category of other superficial injuries of the thumb. The terminology record is active and designates the concept as an injury or poisoning. This code appears in payer coverage articles as a listed diagnosis, though its presence does not guarantee coverage. 1 3 4

Plain-language overview

Code S60.32 represents a nonthermal blister of the thumb, and the official terminology record designates this specific concept with the semantic type of injury or poisoning. 1

What this code represents

The S60.32 terminology record is active for the 2026 ICD-10-CM version, has no narrower child concepts, and lists S60.3, other superficial injuries of the thumb, as its parent concept. 1

Coding details

Within the S60.3 category, S60.32 is distinct from adjacent sibling codes for thumb abrasions, external constrictions, superficial foreign bodies, and insect bites, which are listed separately. 5

A related, more specific code for a nonthermal blister of the right thumb during an initial encounter is S60.322A, which demonstrates that laterality and encounter details exist for this condition. 3

Documentation considerations

The S60.32 terminology record indicates no narrower child concepts exist, while a separate coverage article identifies S60.322A as a blister of the right thumb initial encounter. 1 3

Coverage and utilization context

Code S60.32 and its specific variants appear within Medicare administrative articles that outline billing and coding guidelines for outpatient occupational therapy and tetanus immunization services. 3 4

A Medicare coverage article outlines billing and coding guidelines that include the code for a nonthermal blister of the right thumb, initial encounter, within its documented text. 3

What the sources add

While the terminology record defines S60.32 as an injury, a clinical guideline source discusses blister management debates, noting that blister fluid contains pro-inflammatory cytokines that may delay wound healing. 1 2

The clinical guideline source mentions that the appearance of tension blisters on the foot can indicate ischemic skin damage or compartment syndrome, providing operational context for blister severity assessment. 2

Sources

1. ICD-10-CM S60.32 terminology record — National Cancer Institute Enterprise Vocabulary Services; accessed 2026-07-27.
2. Level 3 guideline on the treatment of patients with severe/multiple injuries — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
3. Article - Billing and Coding: Tetanus Immunization (A52438) — cms.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
4. Article - Billing and Coding: Outpatient Occupational Therapy (A53064) — cms.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
5. S60.3 — medcode.ch; accessed 2026-07-27.