2. CD-9-CM provides subcategory codes to identify injuries considered to be
complicated for categories 872-879. Burns classified to categories 94-949 do not
provide codes at fourth- or fifth-digit level to identify complications; therefore, diagnostic
statements specifying burns as infected will require two or more codes.
EXAMPLES:
DIAGNOSIS: Laceration of right upper arm with delayed
88.13
healing
DIAGNOSIS: Third-degree burn, left forearm, infected
943.31 958.3
3. Category 948 is used to classify burns according to percent of body surface
involved. Military coders will use the fifth digit "" for percent of body surface with no
third-degree burn or third-degree burn of less than 10 percent.
EXAMPLES:
DIAGNOSIS: Third-degree burn to face, neck, and chest,
946.3 948.22
23 percent of body surface
DIAGNOSIS: Second-degree burn to face, neck, and chest,
946.2 948.2
23 percent of body surface
PRINCIPLE XV. LATE EFFECTS
1. Late effects are those inactive residual effects of indefinite duration after termination
of the acute phase of the illness or injury. The term "late effect" includes those
conditions/residuals specified as:
a. Late.
b. Due to an old injury.
c. Due to a previous illness or injury.
d. Due to an injury or illness that occurred 1 year or more ago.
NOTE: The 1 year or more is not a hard, fast rule. If sufficient time has elapsed
between the acute phase of the illness or injury and the development of a residual, then
disregard the 1-year rule.
2. Late effects are classified by the residuals and by the cause of the late effect. The
late-effect code can never be used as the principal diagnosis. Also the late -effect code
can never be the cause for disability separation or failure to meet entrance standards.
3. Categories to identify the cause of the late effect are 137, 138, 139, 268.1, 326, 438,
and 905 through 909. As previously stated, these codes can never be used as principal
diagnosis or as medical reasons for disability separation. They will always be used as
additional codes when applicable.
MD0753
A-45