Dislocation of septal cartilage of nose, sequela

This code signifies a long-term complication or late effect resulting from a prior dislocation of the septal cartilage of the nose. It indicates that the initial injury has healed, but residual issues or conditions directly attributable to that dislocation are now present. This could include persistent deformity, breathing difficulties, or chronic pain.

Apply this code when documentation clearly links a current condition or symptom to a previously sustained septal cartilage dislocation. This is appropriate for follow-up encounters addressing chronic issues stemming from the original injury, rather than the acute injury itself. Look for terms like "due to old injury," "residual effect of," or "sequela of" in the patient's medical record.

• Always sequence this sequela code after the code for the specific residual condition being treated (e.g., chronic nasal obstruction).
• Ensure documentation explicitly states the connection between the current problem and the prior septal dislocation.
• Do not use this code for the initial, acute dislocation; use an acute injury code from the S03 category instead.