Open wound of foot except toe(s) alone, with tendon involvement

This code signifies an open injury to the foot, excluding the toes, where the wound extends deep enough to involve the tendons. This typically implies a laceration, puncture, or avulsion that has compromised the integrity of one or more foot tendons.

Apply this code for traumatic open wounds of the foot (e.g., dorsum, sole, ankle region) where surgical exploration or clinical assessment confirms tendon damage. Documentation should clearly state "open wound," specify the foot as the anatomical site (excluding toes), and explicitly mention "tendon involvement" or describe findings consistent with tendon injury.

• Differentiate from superficial open wounds of the foot (e.g., 873.40-873.49) which do not involve deeper structures.
• Ensure documentation specifies which foot (left/right) if known, though ICD-9-CM does not provide laterality for this specific code.
• Code any associated foreign body (e.g., 873.42 for foot with foreign body) if present and removed.