Acute perichondritis of right external ear

This code signifies an acute inflammatory process affecting the perichondrium (connective tissue surrounding cartilage) of the patient's right external ear. It typically presents with pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness of the auricle, often following trauma, infection, or surgery.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates an acute perichondritis localized to the right external ear. Supporting documentation should include a physician's diagnosis, laterality specification, and signs/symptoms consistent with acute inflammation of the ear cartilage.

• Ensure laterality is explicitly documented as "right" to avoid unspecified coding.
• Distinguish from otitis externa (H60.-) which involves the skin of the ear canal, not primarily the cartilage.
• Code any underlying cause, such as an infection or trauma, as an additional diagnosis if applicable and documented.