Traumatic rupture of unspecified ear drum, sequela

This code signifies a chronic or residual condition resulting from a past traumatic rupture of an eardrum, where the specific ear (left or right) is not documented. It indicates that the patient is experiencing ongoing issues directly attributable to the previous injury, rather than the acute injury itself.

Apply this code when a patient presents with a sequela (e.g., hearing loss, chronic otitis media, persistent perforation) directly linked to a prior traumatic tympanic membrane rupture, and the medical record does not specify which ear was affected. Documentation should clearly state the "sequela" nature of the condition and its origin from a past traumatic event.

• Always use an additional code to specify the nature of the sequela (e.g., H90.x for hearing loss).
• Ensure the documentation explicitly links the current condition to a past traumatic rupture, not an acute one.
• Avoid using this code for acute traumatic ruptures; instead, use codes from the S09.2- series without the "S" seventh character.