Primary blast injury of unspecified ear, sequela

This code signifies a long-term complication or late effect resulting from a primary blast injury affecting an unspecified ear. It indicates that the initial traumatic event, caused by an explosion, has led to persistent or delayed sequelae in the auditory system. This could include chronic hearing loss, tinnitus, or vestibular dysfunction stemming from the original blast trauma.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with a current condition that is a direct consequence of a primary blast injury to an ear, where the specific ear (left or right) is not documented. This code is appropriate for follow-up encounters addressing these chronic or delayed effects, not the initial acute injury. Documentation should clearly link the current ear pathology to a past primary blast exposure.

• Requires a seventh character "S" to indicate sequela, meaning the patient is seen for the residual effects of a past injury.
• Do not use for acute blast injuries; instead, refer to codes for initial injury encounters.
• Ensure documentation specifies "primary blast injury" as the cause, not secondary or tertiary blast effects.