Open bite of trachea, sequela

This code signifies a long-term complication or late effect resulting from a past open wound injury to the trachea. It indicates that the initial traumatic open bite of the windpipe has healed, but the patient continues to experience residual issues directly attributable to that original injury. These sequelae could include strictures, fistulas, or chronic respiratory compromise.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with a current condition that is a direct consequence of an open bite injury to the trachea that occurred in the past. The medical record must clearly link the current manifestation to the previous tracheal trauma. This code is appropriate for follow-up care related to the lasting effects of the initial injury, not the acute injury itself.

• Always sequence the sequela code (S11.025S) first, followed by a code(s) identifying the specific nature of the sequela (e.g., tracheal stenosis, chronic tracheoesophageal fistula).
• Ensure documentation explicitly states the current condition is a "sequela," "late effect," or "due to previous injury" of an open tracheal bite.
• Do not use this code for the initial, acute open bite injury; instead, use the appropriate acute injury code from the S11.02- category.