Injury to ureter, without mention of open wound into cavity

This code signifies a traumatic injury to the ureter, the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. It specifically applies when there is no open wound extending into the abdominal or pelvic cavity associated with the ureteral damage. This could include contusions, lacerations, or avulsions of the ureter.

Use this code for patients presenting with ureteral trauma resulting from blunt force, iatrogenic injury during surgery, or penetrating trauma where the external wound does not communicate with the peritoneal or retroperitoneal space. Documentation should clearly indicate ureteral damage without an associated open cavity wound, often supported by imaging studies like CT scans or retrograde pyelograms.

• Differentiate from ureteral injuries with an open wound into a cavity (e.g., abdominal, pelvic), which would be coded differently.
• Always code the underlying cause of the injury (e.g., E-code for accident, surgical complication code) in addition to this diagnosis.
• Ensure documentation specifies the nature of the ureteral injury (e.g., contusion, laceration) if available, though this code is broad enough for unspecified non-open cavity injuries.