Contact with sword or dagger, initial encounter

This code signifies an injury resulting from direct contact with a sword or dagger. It specifically captures the initial presentation of such an injury, indicating the patient is being seen for the first time for this particular incident. The nature of the injury could range from superficial cuts to more severe penetrating wounds.

Use this code for patients presenting to an emergency department or clinic with an injury sustained from a sword or dagger. This applies to accidental contact, assault, or self-inflicted injuries where the weapon is explicitly identified as a sword or dagger. It should be assigned for the initial encounter for treatment of the injury.

• Always assign an external cause code (V00-Y99) to provide more detail about the circumstances of the injury.
• Code the specific type of injury (e.g., laceration, puncture wound) in addition to this external cause code.
• Ensure the 7th character "A" is used only for the initial encounter for active treatment of the injury.