ICD-10 Code H74.32 – Partial loss of ear ossicles (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H74.32 – Partial loss of ear ossicles
What it is
H74.32 identifies partial loss of the middle-ear ossicles, the tiny bones that transmit sound. Use it when documentation states partial absence, erosion, or loss of one or more ossicles.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Common findings may include conductive hearing loss, abnormal tympanic membrane or middle-ear exam, and imaging or operative evidence of ossicular loss.
When to use this code
Use this code when the record clearly documents partial loss of the ear ossicles as the diagnosed condition. It may appear in ENT notes, operative reports, or imaging summaries describing ossicular damage or missing ossicular segments. If the note only mentions hearing loss without the structural finding, check documentation.
Do not use for
Do not use H74.32 for nonspecific hearing loss, middle-ear infection, or complete ossicular loss unless the documentation supports the partial-loss code. If the chart does not specify ossicular involvement, check documentation.
Coding tip
Code from the clearest source note, and confirm whether the loss is partial rather than complete before assigning H74.32.