Late effect of fracture of skull and face bones

This code signifies a residual condition or complication that arises as a direct result of a previously sustained fracture of the skull or facial bones, after the acute phase of the injury has passed. These late effects can include chronic pain, neurological deficits, cosmetic deformities, or functional impairments directly attributable to the original fracture.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with a current health problem that is a sequela of an old skull or facial bone fracture. Documentation should clearly link the current condition to the prior fracture, often specifying "due to old fracture" or "sequela of prior skull fracture." This code is appropriate for conditions like post-traumatic headaches, persistent facial asymmetry, or cranial nerve palsies stemming from a past skull or facial bone injury.

• Always sequence this code after the specific manifestation of the late effect (e.g., chronic headache, facial paralysis).
• Ensure documentation explicitly states the link between the current condition and the previous fracture, not an acute injury.
• Do not use this code for acute fractures or complications occurring during the initial healing phase; those require codes from the acute injury chapters.