Primary blast injury of ear, bilateral, subsequent encounter

This code signifies a primary blast injury affecting both ears, indicating damage directly caused by the overpressure wave of an explosion. This type of injury often involves barotrauma to the tympanic membrane, ossicles, or inner ear structures.

Apply this code when a patient presents for follow-up care, such as wound checks, medication adjustments, or further diagnostic testing, for a bilateral ear injury sustained from a blast. Documentation should clearly state "primary blast injury," "bilateral ear involvement," and indicate that this is not the initial encounter for this specific injury.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "primary blast injury" as opposed to secondary or tertiary blast injuries.
• Verify laterality is explicitly documented as "bilateral" to support this specific code.
• Confirm the encounter is for subsequent care, not the initial treatment, which would require the "A" seventh character.