Puncture wound without foreign body, left knee, sequela

This code signifies a past injury to the left knee caused by a sharp object penetrating the skin, but without any retained foreign material. The "sequela" designation indicates that this code is used to report a current condition or complication that is a direct result of that previous puncture wound.

This code is appropriate when a patient presents with a long-term issue, such as chronic pain, scar tissue, nerve damage, or limited range of motion, that is directly attributable to a puncture wound to the left knee that occurred in the past. It should be used after the initial healing of the acute injury.

• Always sequence this sequela code after the code for the current condition being treated (e.g., chronic pain, scar contracture).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current knee issue to a previous puncture wound.
• Do not use this code for the initial encounter of an acute puncture wound; use the acute injury code instead.