Open bite of thyroid gland, sequela

This code signifies a late effect or complication arising from a previous open bite injury to the thyroid gland. It indicates that the initial traumatic event has resolved, but its lasting consequences, such as scarring, functional impairment, or chronic pain, are now being addressed.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with a current condition directly attributable to an open bite injury of the thyroid gland that occurred in the past. Documentation should clearly link the current sequela to the historical open bite, often through a history of present illness or past medical history.

• Requires a secondary code to identify the specific nature of the sequela (e.g., scar, dysphagia, hypothyroidism).
• Do not use for acute open bite injuries; those are coded with the initial encounter or subsequent encounter codes.
• Ensure documentation explicitly states the "sequela" or "late effect" of the previous injury.