Contusion of left thumb with damage to nail, sequela

This code signifies a past injury to the left thumb, specifically a bruise that also involved damage to the nail, such as a subungual hematoma or nail avulsion. The "sequela" designation indicates that this code is used to report the late effects or complications of the initial injury, not the acute event itself.

Apply this code when documenting or billing for conditions that are a direct result of a previous contusion to the left thumb with nail damage, after the acute phase of the injury has passed. Examples include chronic nail deformity, persistent pain, or impaired function stemming from the original trauma. This code is appropriate when the patient is presenting for treatment of these long-term effects.

• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to a prior left thumb contusion with nail involvement.
• Do not use this code for the initial, acute injury; instead, use the appropriate acute injury code.
• Always sequence this sequela code first, followed by any additional codes describing the specific late effect being treated.