Residual foreign body in soft tissue

This code signifies the presence of a foreign object, such as a splinter, glass shard, or metal fragment, embedded within the soft tissues (e.g., muscle, subcutaneous tissue, fascia) that remains after an initial injury or attempted removal. It indicates that the foreign body is not acutely causing an inflammatory reaction or infection, but rather is a persistent finding.

Use this code when documentation clearly states the presence of a retained foreign body in soft tissue that is not currently causing acute symptoms or complications like infection. This often applies to follow-up visits where the foreign body is an incidental finding or is being monitored. Documentation should specify the location and nature of the retained object.

• Do not use this code for acute foreign body reactions or infections; instead, use codes from the 990-994 range for complications.
• Always code the specific type of foreign body (e.g., V90.1 for retained glass fragment) as a secondary diagnosis if known.
• Ensure the documentation specifies "residual" or "retained" to differentiate from acute foreign body presence.