Corrosion of third degree of unspecified ear, sequela

This code signifies a third-degree burn injury to any part of the external ear, excluding the eardrum, where the acute phase of the injury has resolved and the patient is now experiencing a long-term complication or residual effect. Third-degree burns involve full-thickness skin destruction, often leading to scarring, tissue loss, or functional impairment.

Apply this code when documenting a patient presenting with a sequela (e.g., severe scarring, deformity, hearing impairment due to external ear damage, chronic pain) directly resulting from a third-degree corrosion of the ear that occurred in the past. This code is appropriate for follow-up care related to the lasting effects of such an injury.

• Always use an external cause code (V00-Y99) in conjunction with this code to describe the circumstances of the corrosion.
• Ensure documentation clearly states the burn was third-degree and that the current encounter is for a sequela, not the initial acute treatment.
• If the specific ear (left or right) is known, a more specific code should be used. This code is for when the laterality is unspecified.