Injury to palmar artery

This code signifies a traumatic injury affecting an artery located in the palm of the hand. This could involve a laceration, puncture, or other form of damage to one of the palmar arterial arches or their branches. Such injuries can lead to significant bleeding and potential compromise of blood supply to the hand and fingers.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a specific injury to a palmar artery resulting from trauma. This applies to scenarios such as deep cuts, stab wounds, or crush injuries affecting the palm. Supporting documentation should specify the anatomical location of the arterial injury within the palm.

• Differentiate from injuries to palmar nerves or tendons; ensure the documentation explicitly states "artery."
• Specify the open wound code (e.g., 882.0-882.2) as the primary diagnosis if the palmar artery injury is a complication of an open wound.
• Consider additional codes for associated injuries, such as nerve damage (e.g., 955.0-955.9) or tendon injuries (e.g., 882.3-882.9), if documented.