Corrosion of third degree of unspecified ear, init encntr

This code indicates a severe, full-thickness burn injury to any part of the external ear, excluding the eardrum. Such a burn involves damage through all layers of the skin, often extending into underlying tissues, and is documented as the initial treatment for the injury.

Use this code when a patient presents for the first time with a third-degree corrosion (chemical burn) affecting the external ear, pinna, or auricle, but not the tympanic membrane. This applies to initial evaluations and treatments of such a severe chemical burn.

• Ensure documentation specifies "third degree" and "corrosion" (chemical burn) to justify this code.
• Confirm the burn location is the external ear, and not the eardrum, which has a separate code.
• The "A" suffix indicates an initial encounter for active treatment of the burn.