February 24, 2026

Cerebral Edema ICD-10-CM Coding: Traumatic vs. Nontraumatic Distinctions

Overview of Cerebral Edema

Cerebral edema is a life-threatening condition that develops because of an inflammatory reaction. Most frequently, this is the consequence of cerebral trauma, massive cerebral infarction, hemorrhages, abscess, tumor, allergy, sepsis, hypoxia, and other toxic or metabolic factors.

Types of Cerebral Edema and Associated Codes

There are several types of cerebral edema:

Vasogenic cerebral edema G93.6
Cytotoxic cerebral edema G93.6
Hydrostatic cerebral edema G93.6
Traumatic cerebral edema S06.1Xxx
Interstitial cerebral edema G93.6

Each of the above can be caused by various scenarios that the attending or consulting Neurologist/Neurosurgeon will typically elaborate upon. Some physicians will differentiate ischemic cerebral edema usually resulting from traumatic incidents.

Clinical Management and Monitoring

Typically, these patients are monitored in an intensive care unit

These are just a few non-invasive treatments.

Tilting of the patient’s head to approximately 30 degrees, there are times when hyperventilation should be utilized and ensuring the patient’s volume status is slightly positive. Physicians may also use various pharmacological methods.

Invasive Treatment Options

Unilateral/bilateral decompressive craniotomies. These can include craniotomies of the posterior and lateral fossa.

Treatment of cerebral edema can be very complex and should be performed in a timely fashion to ensure the most positive outcomes.

Practical Coding Tip: Applying Cerebral Edema Documentation

When reviewing documentation for cerebral edema, focus on identifying:

The underlying cause (trauma, infarction, tumor, hemorrhage, infection, etc.)
Whether the edema is traumatic (S06.1Xxx) or non-traumatic (G93.6)
If decompressive craniotomy or other surgical intervention was performed
Documentation supporting ICU-level monitoring or aggressive management

If documentation does not clearly specify traumatic versus non-traumatic cerebral edema, a query may be appropriate to ensure correct code assignment. Remember that cerebral edema may be integral to certain conditions (such as traumatic brain injury), so clinical context is essential before assigning a separate code.

Jane Keesler, AA, CCS

Senior Consultant

Jane Keesler is a Senior Consultant at UASI, with a background in Inpatient, Outpatient, Hospice, Home Health, Dental, DME coding, DRG/APC validation, and HIM auditing across complex hospital cases. She shares clear, practical coding tips grounded in real audit findings to help coders strengthen accuracy, defensible DRG assignment, and compliant documentation.