Immersion foot, unspecified foot, initial encounter

This code signifies a non-freezing cold injury to the foot resulting from prolonged exposure to wet and cold conditions, without specifying which foot is affected. It is characterized by nerve and vascular damage, leading to symptoms such as numbness, pain, swelling, and skin maceration.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with immersion foot where the specific affected foot (left or right) is not documented or is unknown. This applies to initial evaluations and treatments for this condition.

• Ensure documentation clearly states "immersion foot" or "trench foot" and that the encounter is the first for this specific injury.
• If the laterality (left or right foot) is specified in the medical record, a more specific code should be used.
• Do not use this code for frostbite, which is a freezing injury.