Assault by sharp glass, initial encounter

This code describes an injury resulting from an intentional act of violence where a sharp piece of glass was used as a weapon. The injury is a direct consequence of an assault, indicating the patient was the victim of a deliberate attack.

Apply this code when documenting injuries sustained during an assault involving sharp glass, such as a broken bottle or window pane, during the initial phase of treatment. This includes emergency department visits, initial hospital admissions, or the first encounter with a healthcare provider for this specific injury.

• Always sequence this external cause code after the primary diagnosis code for the specific injury sustained (e.g., laceration, open wound).
• Ensure documentation clearly states the injury was due to an assault and involved sharp glass.
• Verify the encounter is indeed the "initial encounter" for this specific injury. Subsequent encounters will require different seventh characters.