Retained glass fragments

This code signifies the presence of glass fragments embedded within body tissues that have not been removed. This typically results from a penetrating injury where glass shards break off and remain in the wound, potentially causing ongoing irritation, infection, or other complications.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states the presence of retained glass fragments following an injury. This applies to both acute and chronic presentations where the foreign body has not been successfully extracted. It should be used as a secondary diagnosis to specify the nature of the retained foreign body.

• Always code an underlying injury or condition that led to the retention of the glass fragments.
• Do not use this code if the glass fragments have been successfully removed.
• Specify the anatomical location of the retained fragments with an additional code, if known and documented.