Puncture wound w/o foreign body of thyroid gland, init

This code signifies a penetrating injury to the thyroid gland caused by a sharp object, such as a needle or a small, pointed instrument, where no foreign material remains embedded. It describes the initial presentation and treatment of such an injury.

Apply this code when a patient presents with a fresh puncture wound to the thyroid area, and clinical examination or imaging confirms the absence of a retained foreign body. Documentation should clearly indicate the nature of the injury as a puncture and specify the thyroid gland as the affected anatomical site.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states "without foreign body" to differentiate from codes for puncture wounds with foreign bodies.
• Verify the encounter is the "initial encounter" for this specific injury; subsequent care would use a different seventh character.
• Consider external cause codes (V00-Y99) to describe the circumstances of the injury.