Laceration w/o fb of pharynx and cervical esophagus, sequela

This code describes a healed or residual effect of a laceration to the pharynx or cervical esophagus that did not involve a foreign body. It indicates a long-term consequence or complication stemming from a previous injury to these structures.

Use this code when documenting a current condition that is a direct result of a past laceration to the pharynx or cervical esophagus, such as scarring, stricture, or chronic pain. Documentation should clearly state the sequela and link it to a prior laceration, specifying the absence of a foreign body at the time of the original injury.

• Always append the appropriate 7th character for sequela ('S') when coding for residual effects of an injury.
• Distinguish carefully between current acute injuries and sequelae of past injuries; this code is for the latter.
• Ensure documentation explicitly states "without foreign body" to support the specificity of this code.