Open bite of other finger with damage to nail, sequela

This code describes a healed injury to a finger, other than the thumb, that resulted from an open bite and caused lasting damage to the fingernail. The "sequela" indicates that this code is used for the long-term effects or complications of the original injury, not the acute injury itself. This could include nail deformities, chronic pain, or functional impairment directly attributable to the past bite.

Use this code when documenting the long-term consequences of an open bite to a finger (excluding the thumb) where the nail was damaged. This applies to follow-up visits for chronic issues, reconstructive procedures addressing the sequelae, or when evaluating permanent impairment. It should not be used for the initial treatment of the acute bite wound.

• Always assign a "sequela" code for conditions that are the late effects of an injury, after the acute phase has passed.
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current nail damage or related symptoms to a past open bite injury.
• Do not use this code if the injury is acute or if the bite was to the thumb (use a more specific code for thumb injuries).