Assault by other bodily force, sequela

This code signifies a long-term consequence or residual effect resulting from an assault where the perpetrator used their own body (e.g., punching, kicking, biting, strangulation) as the weapon, excluding sexual assault. It indicates that the initial injury from the assault has healed, but the patient continues to experience related health problems. These sequelae can be physical, psychological, or a combination thereof.

Apply this code when documenting conditions that are a direct result of a past assault by bodily force, and the acute phase of the original injury has passed. Examples include chronic pain, nerve damage, psychological disorders like PTSD, or permanent disfigurement stemming from such an assault. This code is used in conjunction with a code for the specific sequela.

• Always sequence this sequela code after the code describing the specific residual condition (e.g., chronic pain, PTSD).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to a past assault by bodily force.
• The "S" in the 7th character indicates sequela and must always be used for this code.