Primary blast injury of left ear, subsequent encounter

This code signifies an injury to the left ear resulting from the direct impact of a blast wave, such as from an explosion. This specific code is used when the patient is receiving follow-up care for this injury after the initial treatment phase.

Apply this code for patients presenting for ongoing management, healing assessment, or treatment of complications related to a primary blast injury of the left ear. Documentation should clearly indicate the left ear as the affected site, the mechanism of injury as a blast, and that the encounter is not for initial active treatment.

• Ensure documentation specifies "left ear" and "primary blast injury" to differentiate from other ear trauma or blast-related injuries.
• The "D" seventh character indicates a subsequent encounter, meaning the patient is in the healing or recovery phase. Do not use for initial treatment or sequelae.
• Consider co-reporting with external cause codes (V00-Y99) to provide a complete picture of the injury circumstances.