Open bite of left hand, sequela

This code signifies a healed or chronic complication resulting from an open bite wound to the left hand. It indicates that the initial injury has resolved, but there are lasting effects such as scarring, nerve damage, or functional impairment directly attributable to the original bite.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with a long-term consequence of a previously sustained open bite to the left hand. This applies to follow-up visits where the focus is on managing or assessing the sequelae, rather than the acute injury itself.

• Always link this sequela code to an external cause code (e.g., W54.XXXS for dog bite) to fully describe the injury's origin.
• Ensure documentation clearly states the bite occurred on the left hand and that the current condition is a residual effect.
• Do not use this code for the initial acute open bite; instead, use the appropriate acute open bite code for the initial encounter.