Burn of mouth and pharynx, sequela

This code signifies a long-term complication or residual effect resulting from a burn injury to the oral cavity and/or the pharynx. These sequelae can include scarring, strictures, dysphagia, or other persistent functional impairments that manifest after the acute burn has healed. It indicates that the current patient encounter is for the management of these chronic issues.

Apply this code when a patient presents for treatment of a condition directly attributable to a past burn of the mouth or pharynx. This includes follow-up visits for ongoing management of burn-related strictures, reconstructive surgeries for scarring, or therapy for chronic swallowing difficulties. It is used when the acute burn injury itself is no longer active.

• Always use this code as a secondary diagnosis, following the code for the specific sequela being treated (e.g., K22.2 for esophageal stricture).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to a previous burn of the mouth or pharynx.
• Do not use this code for acute burn injuries; those require codes from the T20-T32 range without the "S" seventh character.