Struck by turtle, initial encounter

This code signifies an injury sustained by a patient who has been hit by a turtle. This includes direct impact from a turtle, such as being struck by a falling turtle or one moving with force. It specifically pertains to the initial phase of treatment for such an injury.

Apply this code when documenting an emergency department visit or initial physician consultation for an injury directly resulting from a turtle striking the patient. This is appropriate for cases like a patient being hit by a turtle that fell from a height, or a large turtle unexpectedly colliding with an individual. It should be used for the first encounter related to this specific incident.

• Always assign an external cause code (V00-Y99) in conjunction with an injury code (S00-T88) to fully describe the incident.
• Ensure the "A" for initial encounter is appropriate; subsequent encounters for the same injury will use "D" or "S."
• Do not use for injuries caused by a turtle bite or other direct contact not involving being struck.