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  3. S00–T88
  4. T79
  5. Certain early complications of trauma, not elsewhere classified (T79)

Certain early complications of trauma, not elsewhere classified (T79)

ICD-10 code T79 covers certain early complications of trauma that are not classified elsewhere, such as air embolism, fat embolism, and traumatic compartment syndrome. These codes are specifically designed to capture the initial, subsequent, or sequela stages of various trauma-related complications.

This group of ICD-10 codes is used to document conditions like air embolism (T79.0XX), sometimes known as postoperative air embolism or dysbaric air embolism, and fat embolism (T79.1XX), which includes pulmonary fat embolism and fat embolism syndrome. It also includes traumatic secondary hemorrhage and seroma (T79.2XX) and traumatic shock (T79.4XX), terms that clarify complications such as burn shock. The compartment syndrome codes (T79.Axx) identify traumatic compartment syndromes affecting upper and lower extremities, abdomen, or other sites, with synonyms like Volkmann contracture and abdominal compartment syndrome. This section helps medical coders assign accurate codes for early trauma complications according to encounter type and site, supporting precise documentation for complex trauma presentations.

  • 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 Certain early complications of trauma, not elsewhere classified
        • T79.0 Air embolism (traumatic)
        • T79.0XXA Air embolism (traumatic), initial encounter
        • T79.0XXD Air embolism (traumatic), subsequent encounter
        • T79.0XXS Air embolism (traumatic), sequela
        • T79.1 Fat embolism (traumatic)
        • T79.1XXA Fat embolism (traumatic), initial encounter
        • T79.1XXD Fat embolism (traumatic), subsequent encounter
        • T79.1XXS Fat embolism (traumatic), sequela
        • T79.2 Traumatic secondary and recurrent hemorrhage and seroma
        • T79.2XXA Traumatic secondary and recurrent hemorrhage and seroma, initial encounter
        • T79.2XXD Traumatic secondary and recurrent hemorrhage and seroma, subsequent encounter
        • T79.2XXS Traumatic secondary and recurrent hemorrhage and seroma, sequela
        • T79.4 Traumatic shock
        • T79.4XXA Traumatic shock, initial encounter
        • T79.4XXD Traumatic shock, subsequent encounter
        • T79.4XXS Traumatic shock, sequela
        • T79.5 Traumatic anuria
        • T79.5XXA Traumatic anuria, initial encounter
        • T79.5XXD Traumatic anuria, subsequent encounter
        • T79.5XXS Traumatic anuria, sequela
        • T79.6 Traumatic ischemia of muscle
        • T79.6XXA Traumatic ischemia of muscle, initial encounter
        • T79.6XXD Traumatic ischemia of muscle, subsequent encounter
        • T79.6XXS Traumatic ischemia of muscle, sequela
        • T79.7 Traumatic subcutaneous emphysema
        • T79.7XXA Traumatic subcutaneous emphysema, initial encounter
        • T79.7XXD Traumatic subcutaneous emphysema, subsequent encounter
        • T79.7XXS Traumatic subcutaneous emphysema, sequela
        • T79.8 Other early complications of trauma
        • T79.8XXA Other early complications of trauma, initial encounter
        • T79.8XXD Other early complications of trauma, subsequent encounter
        • T79.8XXS Other early complications of trauma, sequela
        • T79.9 Unspecified early complication of trauma
        • T79.9XXA Unspecified early complication of trauma, initial encounter
        • T79.9XXD Unspecified early complication of trauma, subsequent encounter
        • T79.9XXS Unspecified early complication of trauma, sequela
        • T79.A Traumatic compartment syndrome
        • T79.A0 Compartment syndrome, unspecified
        • T79.A0XA Compartment syndrome, unspecified, initial encounter
        • T79.A0XD Compartment syndrome, unspecified, subsequent encounter
        • T79.A0XS Compartment syndrome, unspecified, sequela
        • T79.A1 Traumatic compartment syndrome of upper extremity
        • T79.A11 Traumatic compartment syndrome of right upper extremity
        • T79.A11A Traumatic compartment syndrome of right upper extremity, initial encounter
        • T79.A11D Traumatic compartment syndrome of right upper extremity, subsequent encounter
        • T79.A11S Traumatic compartment syndrome of right upper extremity, sequela
        • T79.A12 Traumatic compartment syndrome of left upper extremity
        • T79.A12A Traumatic compartment syndrome of left upper extremity, initial encounter
        • T79.A12D Traumatic compartment syndrome of left upper extremity, subsequent encounter
        • T79.A12S Traumatic compartment syndrome of left upper extremity, sequela
        • T79.A19 Traumatic compartment syndrome of unspecified upper extremity
        • T79.A19A Traumatic compartment syndrome of unspecified upper extremity, initial encounter
        • T79.A19D Traumatic compartment syndrome of unspecified upper extremity, subsequent encounter
        • T79.A19S Traumatic compartment syndrome of unspecified upper extremity, sequela
        • T79.A2 Traumatic compartment syndrome of lower extremity
        • T79.A21 Traumatic compartment syndrome of right lower extremity
        • T79.A21A Traumatic compartment syndrome of right lower extremity, initial encounter
        • T79.A21D Traumatic compartment syndrome of right lower extremity, subsequent encounter
        • T79.A21S Traumatic compartment syndrome of right lower extremity, sequela
        • T79.A22 Traumatic compartment syndrome of left lower extremity
        • T79.A22A Traumatic compartment syndrome of left lower extremity, initial encounter
        • T79.A22D Traumatic compartment syndrome of left lower extremity, subsequent encounter
        • T79.A22S Traumatic compartment syndrome of left lower extremity, sequela
        • T79.A29 Traumatic compartment syndrome of unspecified lower extremity
        • T79.A29A Traumatic compartment syndrome of unspecified lower extremity, initial encounter
        • T79.A29D Traumatic compartment syndrome of unspecified lower extremity, subsequent encounter
        • T79.A29S Traumatic compartment syndrome of unspecified lower extremity, sequela
        • T79.A3 Traumatic compartment syndrome of abdomen
        • T79.A3XA Traumatic compartment syndrome of abdomen, initial encounter
        • T79.A3XD Traumatic compartment syndrome of abdomen, subsequent encounter
        • T79.A3XS Traumatic compartment syndrome of abdomen, sequela
        • T79.A9 Traumatic compartment syndrome of other sites
        • T79.A9XA Traumatic compartment syndrome of other sites, initial encounter
        • T79.A9XD Traumatic compartment syndrome of other sites, subsequent encounter
        • T79.A9XS Traumatic compartment syndrome of other sites, sequela

Instructional Notations

Type 2 Excludes

A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.

  • acute respiratory distress syndrome J80
  • complications occurring during or following medical procedures T80 T88
  • complications of surgical and medical care NEC T80 T88
  • newborn respiratory distress syndrome P22.0

7th Character Note

Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.

  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T79

7th Character

Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.

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

Clinical Terms

The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.

Anuria

Absence of urine formation. It is usually associated with complete bilateral ureteral (URETER) obstruction, complete lower urinary tract obstruction, or unilateral ureteral obstruction when a solitary kidney is present.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea

Discharge of cerebrospinal fluid through the external auditory meatus or through the eustachian tube into the nasopharynx. This is usually associated with CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA (e.g., SKULL FRACTURE involving the TEMPORAL BONE;), NEUROSURGICAL PROCEDURES; or other conditions, but may rarely occur spontaneously. (From Am J Otol 1995 Nov;16(6):765-71)

Crush Syndrome

Severe systemic manifestation of trauma and ischemia involving soft tissues, principally skeletal muscle, due to prolonged severe crushing. It leads to increased permeability of the cell membrane and to the release of potassium, enzymes, and myoglobin from within cells. Ischemic renal dysfunction secondary to hypotension and diminished renal perfusion results in acute tubular necrosis and uremia.

Mastectomy

Surgical procedure to remove one or both breasts.

Seroma

Tumor-like sterile accumulation of serum in a tissue, organ, or cavity. It results from a tissue insult and is the product of tissue inflammation. It most commonly occurs following MASTECTOMY.

Subcutaneous Emphysema

Presence of air or gas in the subcutaneous tissues of the body.

Ureter

One of a pair of thick-walled tubes that transports urine from the KIDNEY PELVIS to the URINARY BLADDER.

Vesicular Stomatitis

A viral disease caused by at least two distinct species (serotypes) in the VESICULOVIRUS genus: VESICULAR STOMATITIS INDIANA VIRUS and VESICULAR STOMATITIS NEW JERSEY VIRUS. It is characterized by vesicular eruptions on the ORAL MUCOSA in cattle, horses, pigs, and other animals. In humans, vesicular stomatitis causes an acute influenza-like illness.

Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus

The type species of VESICULOVIRUS causing a disease symptomatically similar to FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE in cattle, horses, and pigs. It may be transmitted to other species including humans, where it causes influenza-like symptoms.

Vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus

A species of VESICULOVIRUS causing VESICULAR STOMATITIS primarily in cattle, horses, and pigs. It can be transmitted to humans where it causes influenza-like symptoms.

Vesiculovirus

A genus of the family RHABDOVIRIDAE that infects a wide range of vertebrates and invertebrates. The type species is VESICULAR STOMATITIS INDIANA VIRUS.