Burn of second degree of left palm, initial encounter

This code signifies a partial-thickness burn affecting the left palm, characterized by blistering, significant pain, and potential swelling. The burn extends beyond the epidermis into the dermis but does not involve the full thickness of the skin.

Apply this code when documenting the initial treatment or evaluation of a patient presenting with a second-degree burn specifically located on their left palm. This includes emergency department visits, initial physician office encounters, or the first hospitalization for this injury.

• Ensure the documentation clearly specifies "left palm" and "second degree" to support this code.
• Confirm this is the patient's initial encounter for this specific burn injury. Subsequent care would require a different encounter character.
• Always code the extent of the burn (e.g., T31.-) and any associated external cause codes (e.g., X00-X58) in addition to the burn site code.