Forceps delivery affecting fetus or newborn

This code signifies that a fetus or newborn experienced an adverse effect or injury due to a forceps delivery. It indicates a complication directly attributable to the use of obstetric forceps during the birthing process, impacting the health status of the neonate.

This code is appropriate when documentation clearly links a neonatal condition (e.g., cephalohematoma, facial nerve palsy, skull fracture) to the use of forceps during delivery. It should be used as a secondary diagnosis following the primary diagnosis for the specific neonatal condition.

• Always sequence the specific neonatal condition (e.g., 767.11 for cephalohematoma) as the primary diagnosis, with this code as a secondary code.
• Ensure the medical record explicitly states that forceps were used and that the neonatal condition is a direct result of that intervention.
• Do not use this code for complications of vacuum extraction; a different code applies for those scenarios.