Strain of muscle and tendon of back wall of thorax, sequela

This code signifies a chronic or residual condition resulting from a previous injury to the muscles and/or tendons located in the posterior thoracic wall. This could include persistent pain, weakness, or limited range of motion that remains after the initial acute strain has healed. It indicates that the current symptoms are a lasting consequence of that prior injury.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with ongoing symptoms directly attributable to a past strain of the back wall of the thorax. This is appropriate for follow-up visits where the acute injury has resolved, but the patient continues to experience sequelae. It should be applied when the physician explicitly links the current chronic condition to a previously sustained muscle or tendon strain in this anatomical area.

• Always use this code as a secondary diagnosis, following the code for the specific sequela (e.g., chronic pain).
• Ensure documentation clearly states the link between the current condition and a previous strain.
• Verify the "S" seventh character is appropriate, indicating sequela, rather than an acute or subsequent encounter.