Residual foreign body in soft tissue

This code signifies the presence of a foreign object, such as a splinter, glass fragment, or metal shard, that remains embedded within the soft tissues of the body after an injury or intervention. It indicates that the foreign body is still present and has not been fully removed.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates an unremoved foreign body within soft tissue, often after an initial injury or an incomplete removal attempt. Supporting documentation would include operative reports detailing incomplete removal, imaging studies confirming presence, or physician notes describing a palpable foreign object.

• Do not use this code for foreign bodies that have caused a granulomatous reaction; refer to the Excludes1 notes for appropriate codes.
• Ensure the documentation specifies "residual" or "retained" to justify the use of this code, distinguishing it from an acute foreign body injury.
• Consider an external cause code (V00-Y99) to describe the circumstances of the initial injury that led to the foreign body.