Bitten by sea lion, initial encounter

This code signifies an injury resulting from a bite inflicted by a sea lion. Such an encounter typically involves direct contact with the animal, leading to a wound that may range from superficial to deep, potentially involving soft tissue, muscle, or bone.

Apply this code when documenting the initial medical assessment and treatment for a patient who has sustained a bite wound from a sea lion. This includes emergency department visits, urgent care, or initial physician consultations following the incident.

• Always assign an external cause code (V00-Y99) in conjunction with this code to fully describe the circumstances of the injury.
• Ensure a corresponding code for the specific bite wound (e.g., open wound, puncture wound) is also reported.
• For subsequent care of the same injury, use the appropriate subsequent encounter or sequela extension.