Corrosion of third degree of left ear, sequela

This code signifies a third-degree chemical burn, or corrosion, affecting any part of the left ear, excluding the eardrum, where the acute injury has healed and the patient is now presenting for treatment of a residual condition or complication. Third-degree burns involve full-thickness tissue destruction, often leading to scarring, contractures, or other long-term sequelae.

Use this code when documenting a patient encounter for a chronic or late effect resulting from a third-degree chemical burn to the left ear (excluding the eardrum). Examples include surgical repair of scar tissue, management of chronic pain, or addressing functional impairment directly attributable to the past corrosion. This code is appropriate when the initial injury has resolved and the focus of care is on the sequela.

• Always assign an external cause code (V00-Y99) to identify the circumstances of the corrosion, even for sequela codes.
• Do not use this code for acute third-degree chemical burns; instead, refer to codes in the T20.3- series for initial encounters.
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition as a direct result of the previous third-degree corrosion to the left ear.