Laceration without foreign body of nose, sequela

This code describes a healed or chronic laceration of the nose that occurred in the past and is now causing ongoing issues or complications. It indicates that the original injury was a cut or tear to the nasal tissue, without any foreign object embedded at the time of the initial injury. The "sequela" aspect signifies that the current encounter addresses a residual effect of that prior laceration.

Use this code when a patient presents with a current problem directly attributable to a previously sustained laceration of the nose. This includes scenarios such as scar tissue formation, chronic pain, cosmetic deformities, or functional impairments (e.g., breathing difficulties) resulting from the old injury. Documentation must clearly link the current condition to the past nasal laceration and specify the absence of a foreign body at the time of the original injury.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states the current condition is a "sequela" or "due to old laceration" of the nose.
• Do not use this code for acute lacerations; those require an acute injury code.
• Always sequence this code as a secondary diagnosis if the primary reason for the encounter is treatment of the sequela itself (e.g., scar revision).