Puncture wound w/o foreign body of right elbow, init encntr

This code signifies a penetrating injury to the right elbow caused by a sharp object, where no foreign material remains embedded in the wound. It indicates that the patient is receiving initial active treatment for this specific injury.

Apply this code when documenting the first encounter for a patient presenting with a puncture wound to the right elbow that has been thoroughly irrigated and debrided, confirming the absence of any retained foreign body. This is appropriate for acute injuries requiring initial medical attention, such as cleaning, dressing, or primary closure.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states "right elbow" and confirms the absence of a foreign body.
• Verify this is the initial encounter for active treatment; subsequent care would use a different seventh character.
• Consider external cause codes (V00-Y99) to describe the circumstances of the injury.