Minor laceration of head of pancreas, initial encounter

This code signifies a superficial tear or cut to the head of the pancreas, indicating a less severe injury that does not involve significant tissue loss or deep penetration. It specifically refers to the initial presentation and treatment of this pancreatic injury.

Apply this code for patients presenting with a newly diagnosed, non-penetrating injury to the head of the pancreas, such as from blunt abdominal trauma or a minor surgical mishap. This is appropriate when the laceration is documented as superficial or minor in nature.

• Ensure documentation specifies the "head" of the pancreas and describes the laceration as "minor" or "superficial."
• Verify this is the patient's first encounter for this specific injury; subsequent encounters would use a different seventh character.
• Always code any associated external cause of injury (e.g., fall, motor vehicle accident) in addition to this diagnosis.