Superficial foreign body (splinter) of hip, thigh, leg, and ankle, without major open wound and without mention of infection

This code signifies the presence of a foreign object, such as a splinter or thorn, embedded superficially in the skin of the hip, thigh, leg, or ankle. It specifically applies when there is no significant open wound associated with the foreign body and no signs of infection are documented.

Use this code for patients presenting with a non-infected, superficial foreign body in the lower extremity, such as a wood splinter in the calf or a glass fragment in the thigh. Documentation should clearly state the presence of the foreign body, its superficial nature, and the absence of a major open wound or infection.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states "without major open wound" and "without mention of infection."
• If an open wound is present, or infection is noted, a more specific code from the open wound or infection categories would be appropriate.
• Consider an external cause code (E-code) to describe the circumstances of the injury, if known.