Struck by horse, initial encounter

This code describes an injury sustained when a person is hit by a horse. This includes direct impact from any part of the horse's body, such as a kick, bite, or being run into. It specifically indicates the initial treatment for such an injury.

Use this code for patients presenting with injuries resulting from being struck by a horse during their first encounter for this specific incident. This applies to various settings, including emergency departments, urgent care, or a physician's office for initial evaluation and treatment.

• Always assign an external cause code (W55.12XA) in conjunction with a code for the specific injury sustained (e.g., fracture, contusion).
• Ensure the 7th character "A" is used for the initial encounter for care of the injury.
• Consider additional external cause codes if the incident involved other factors, such as being thrown from a horse (W03.XXXA).