Injury to femoral veins

This code signifies damage or trauma specifically affecting the femoral veins, which are major blood vessels located in the thigh. Such injuries can range from contusions and lacerations to complete transections, potentially leading to significant hemorrhage or thrombosis.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates an injury to one or both femoral veins, often resulting from penetrating trauma (e.g., stab wound, gunshot) or blunt force trauma. Supporting documentation should specify the femoral vein as the injured vessel, not just a general leg vein injury.

• Differentiate from injuries to the femoral artery; ensure the documentation explicitly states "vein."
• Always code the underlying cause of the injury (e.g., assault, accident) as an external cause code (E-code) in addition to the injury code.
• Specify laterality (left, right, or bilateral) if documented, although ICD-9-CM 904.2 does not offer laterality distinctions.