Late effect of burn of wrist and hand

This code signifies a long-term complication or sequela resulting from a burn injury that specifically affected the wrist and/or hand. These late effects can include chronic pain, scarring, contractures, functional impairment, or nerve damage that persists after the acute burn has healed.

Apply this code when a patient presents with a current condition directly attributable to a past burn of the wrist or hand, and the acute phase of the burn is no longer active. Documentation should clearly link the current complaint to a previous burn injury of the specified anatomical site, indicating it is a residual effect.

• Always sequence this code after the code identifying the specific nature of the late effect (e.g., scar, contracture).
• Do not use this code for active burn treatment; it is exclusively for residual conditions.
• Ensure documentation specifies the wrist and/or hand as the affected area of the original burn.