Assault by handgun discharge, sequela

This code indicates a long-term or late-occurring complication resulting from an injury sustained due to an assault involving a handgun discharge. It signifies that the initial acute injury has resolved, but the patient continues to experience residual effects directly attributable to that past event. These sequelae can manifest physically, psychologically, or functionally.

Apply this code when documenting conditions such as chronic pain, nerve damage, scarring, psychological trauma (e.g., PTSD), or functional limitations that are a direct consequence of a handgun assault that occurred in the past. This code is appropriate for follow-up encounters where the focus is on managing these persistent effects, not the initial acute injury.

• Always use this code as a secondary diagnosis, following the code for the specific sequela being treated (e.g., chronic pain, PTSD).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to the past handgun assault.
• Do not use this code for the initial acute injury or during the active healing phase of the original assault.