Other contact with sea lion, initial encounter

This code describes an injury or adverse health effect resulting from direct physical interaction with a sea lion, excluding bites. This could involve being struck, scratched, or otherwise harmed by the animal. The "initial encounter" designation indicates that this is the first time the patient is receiving active treatment for this specific injury.

Use this code for patients presenting with injuries such as contusions, abrasions, lacerations, or fractures sustained from being hit or otherwise physically contacted by a sea lion. This code is appropriate when the patient is first seen for evaluation and treatment of the sea lion-related injury.

• Always use in conjunction with an external cause code (e.g., Y92.- for place of occurrence) to provide a complete picture of the incident.
• If the sea lion inflicted a bite, a more specific code from the W56.11- series should be used instead.
• Ensure the seventh character "A" is appended for the initial encounter; subsequent care would use "D" or "S".