Late effect of tendon injury

This code signifies a residual condition or complication arising from a previous injury to a tendon, occurring after the acute phase of the original injury has resolved. It encompasses chronic pain, restricted range of motion, weakness, or other persistent functional impairments directly attributable to the past tendon trauma.

Use this code when a patient presents with ongoing symptoms or functional deficits clearly documented as a direct consequence of a prior tendon injury. Documentation should specify the original tendon injury and explicitly link the current symptoms to that past event, indicating that the acute injury has healed but left lasting effects.

• Always sequence this code after the specific code identifying the nature of the late effect (e.g., chronic pain, contracture).
• Ensure documentation clearly distinguishes between an acute tendon injury and a late effect; this code is not for current, active injuries.
• Avoid using this code if the current condition is a new, unrelated tendon injury or an exacerbation of an underlying chronic condition not directly caused by the prior trauma.