Open bite of left ring finger w/o damage to nail, sequela

This code signifies a healed or residual effect from an open bite injury to the left ring finger, specifically where the nail apparatus was not compromised during the initial injury. It indicates that the acute phase of the injury has passed, and the patient is now presenting with a long-term complication or sequela.

Apply this code when documenting a patient encounter for a persistent issue directly attributable to a past open bite of the left ring finger, such as scarring, chronic pain, or functional limitation, where the nail itself was not damaged. This is appropriate for follow-up visits addressing the long-term consequences of the original injury.

• Always use this 'S' (sequela) seventh character for conditions that are the late effects of an earlier injury.
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to the previous open bite injury.
• Do not use for initial encounters or active treatment of the acute injury; those require an 'A' or 'D' seventh character.