Question:
The physician removed a "hair tourniquet" of human hair wound tightly around a patient's third and fourth toes. There was no injury, but the toes were very red and swollen. What diagnosis should we code? Connecticut Subscriber
Answer:
Your best choice is 917.8 (
Other and unspecified superficial injury of foot and toes without mention of infection). If the tourniquet led to infection, change to 917.9 (
Other an unspecified superficial injury of foot and toes, infected).
The ICD-9 index lists hair tourniquet under "syndrome," which then leads you to "superficial injury by site" and 917.8 or 917.9.
Consider this:
You could also include E928.4 (
External constriction caused by hair) on the claim. You aren't required to report E codes, but they do provide more specific information about an injury.