Accidental malfunction of hunting rifle, subs encntr

This code signifies an injury or adverse health effect resulting from the unintended discharge or operational failure of a hunting rifle, occurring during a follow-up visit for the initial injury. It indicates that the patient is receiving ongoing care for complications or recovery related to the original incident.

Apply this code for subsequent encounters where a patient is being treated for injuries sustained due to an accidental malfunction of a hunting rifle. This includes follow-up appointments for wound care, fracture management, physical therapy, or monitoring of long-term complications. Do not use for the initial treatment of the injury.

• Always pair this external cause code with a primary diagnosis code describing the specific injury (e.g., fracture, open wound).
• Ensure the "D" seventh character is used only for subsequent encounters, after the initial treatment phase.
• Verify documentation clearly states the injury was due to a hunting rifle malfunction, not intentional discharge or other firearm types.