Bitten by duck, sequela

This code indicates a patient is presenting with a health condition that is a direct consequence or late effect of a previous duck bite. This could include chronic pain, scarring, nerve damage, or persistent infection resulting from the initial injury. The "S" in the seventh character signifies that this is a sequela, meaning the acute phase of the duck bite has passed.

Use this code when documenting a patient encounter for a long-term complication or residual effect directly attributable to a past duck bite. This applies when the original bite occurred at some point in the past, and the current treatment is for the lasting impact, not the immediate injury. Examples include treating a non-healing wound from a duck bite or addressing functional limitations due to nerve damage.

• Always assign this code as a secondary diagnosis, with the primary diagnosis reflecting the specific sequela being treated (e.g., scar, chronic wound, nerve palsy).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to a past duck bite.
• Do not use this code for acute duck bites; refer to codes with an "A" (initial encounter) or "D" (subsequent encounter) for those scenarios.