Late effect of superficial injury

This code signifies a residual condition or complication arising from a superficial injury that occurred in the past. It indicates that the initial injury has healed, but its lasting effects are now presenting clinically. Examples include chronic pain, scarring, or functional limitations directly attributable to a prior superficial trauma.

Apply this code when a patient presents with a current health problem that is a direct, long-term consequence of a previously sustained superficial injury. Documentation should clearly link the current condition to the past injury, often through patient history and physical examination findings. This code is used when the acute phase of the superficial injury has passed.

• Always sequence this code after the code identifying the specific late effect (e.g., scar, chronic pain).
• Do not use this code for acute superficial injuries; those require codes from the acute injury chapters.
• Ensure documentation explicitly states the superficial nature of the original injury and its causal link to the current late effect.