2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T79.7XXA

Traumatic subcutaneous emphysema, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM Code:
T79.7XXA
ICD-10 Code for:
Traumatic subcutaneous emphysema, initial encounter
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Not chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
    (S00–T88)
    • Certain early complications of trauma
      (T79)
      • Certain early complications of trauma, not elsewhere classified
        (T79)

T79.7XXA is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of traumatic subcutaneous emphysema, initial encounter. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

T79.7XXA is an initial encounter code, includes a 7th character and should be used while the patient is receiving active treatment for a condition like traumatic subcutaneous emphysema. According to ICD-10-CM Guidelines an "initial encounter" doesn't necessarily means "initial visit". The 7th character should be used when the patient is undergoing active treatment regardless if new or different providers saw the patient over the course of a treatment. The appropriate 7th character codes should also be used even if the patient delayed seeking treatment for a condition.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

  • Subcutaneous emphysema
  • Traumatic subcutaneous emphysema

Clinical Classification

Clinical Information

  • Subcutaneous Emphysema

    presence of air or gas in the subcutaneous tissues of the body.
  • Grade 1 Subcutaneous Emphysema, CTCAE|Grade 1 Subcutaneous emphysema

    asymptomatic or mild symptoms; clinical or diagnostic observations only; intervention not indicated
  • Grade 2 Subcutaneous Emphysema, CTCAE|Grade 2 Subcutaneous emphysema

    moderate; minimal, local or noninvasive intervention indicated
  • Grade 3 Subcutaneous Emphysema, CTCAE|Grade 3 Subcutaneous emphysema

    severe or medically significant but not immediately life-threatening; hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization indicated; limiting self care adl
  • Subcutaneous Emphysema

    the presence of air or gas in subcutaneous tissue.
  • Subcutaneous Emphysema, CTCAE|Subcutaneous emphysema

    a disorder characterized by air in the subcutaneous tissue.
  • Traumatic Subcutaneous Emphysema

    the infiltration of air into the skin tissue secondary to traumatic tissue disruption.

Coding Guidelines

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Certain early complications of trauma, not elsewhere classified (T79). Use the following options for the aplicable episode of care:

  • A - initial encounter
  • D - subsequent encounter
  • S - sequela

Convert T79.7XXA to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 958.7 - Traum subcutan emphysema
    Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.