Adult physical abuse, suspected, sequela

This code indicates a suspected case of physical abuse in an adult where the patient is presenting with a sequela, meaning a condition or complication that arises as a consequence of the abuse, rather than the acute injury itself. It signifies that while the abuse is not definitively confirmed, it is strongly considered as the underlying cause of the patient's current symptoms or conditions.

Use this code when an adult patient presents with chronic pain, psychological distress, or other long-term health issues that a clinician suspects are the result of past physical abuse. This code is appropriate when the acute phase of the abuse has passed, and the current encounter focuses on managing the lasting effects.

• Always assign an additional code(s) for the specific sequela(e) being treated (e.g., chronic pain, depression).
• This code is for suspected abuse; if abuse is confirmed, a different code from the T74 category would be more appropriate.
• The "S" in the 7th character indicates sequela, meaning the patient is being seen for the late effects of the abuse.