Superficial foreign body, unsp lesser toe(s), init encntr

This diagnosis code indicates the presence of a foreign object lodged superficially in an unspecified lesser toe, meaning any toe other than the great toe. The foreign body has not penetrated deeply into the tissue, and this is the first time the patient is being treated for this specific injury.

Apply this code when a patient presents with a foreign body, such as a splinter, glass shard, or metal fragment, embedded in the skin of a lesser toe, and the specific toe (e.g., second, third, fourth, or fifth) is not documented. This code is appropriate for the initial visit for evaluation and removal of the foreign object.

• Ensure documentation specifies "superficial" and "lesser toe(s)" when the exact toe is unknown.
• Confirm this is the patient's first encounter for this specific injury; subsequent encounters would use a different seventh character.
• If the foreign body is in the great toe, a different code from the S90.44- series would be more appropriate.